Leather Archives & Museum
Double-doored entrance to a one-story brick building with stairs leading up to the doorway.
Entrance to the LA&M in 2015
EstablishedSeptember 18, 1991 (1991-09-18)
Location6418 N Greenview Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60626
United States
Coordinates41°59′55.06″N 87°40′5.93″W / 41.9986278°N 87.6683139°W / 41.9986278; -87.6683139
FounderChuck Renslow and Tony DeBlase
Executive directorGary Wasdin
Websiteleatherarchives.org

The Leather Archives & Museum (LA&M) is a community archives, library, and museum located in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Founded by Chuck Renslow and Tony DeBlase in 1991, its mission is "making leather, kink, BDSM, and fetish accessible through research, preservation, education and community engagement."[1][2][3] The LA&M is a leading conservator of queer erotic art. Its permanent collection features some of the most iconic LGBT artists of the twentieth century, including most artwork by Bill Schmeling and many works by Dom Orejudos.[4][5]

The LA&M is a 501(c)(3)-registered non-profit organization.[6] Research assistance is available upon request.[7]

Collection

The LA&M has the world's largest collection of original pieces by Dom Orejudos (Etienne), some Touko Valio Laaksonen (Tom of Finland) and Charles Kerbs (MATT) originals, and complete sets of the magazines Drummer (original run) and Bound & Gagged.[5][8] It also has one of three original leather pride flags that the flag's creator Tony DeBlase assembled as a prototype,[9] and the entire personal collection of artwork and notes belonging to Bill Schmeling (the Hun).[4]

The collection also includes all photos by Kris Studios, a male physique photography studio founded by Chuck Renslow and Dom Orejudos (named in part to honor transgender pioneer Christine Jorgensen).[10][11][12][13]

The LA&M has notable writings such as the records of International Mr. Leather, the National Leather Association, and the Mineshaft, as well as the papers of Tony DeBlase[5] and artifacts from numerous LGBT motorcycle clubs.[14][15] Hundreds of oral history recordings, videos and transcripts are also available to researchers.[16]

LA&M also displays ephemera from historic gay establishments, such as a glory hole from Man's Country (Chicago), a sign from the Mineshaft (New York City), and a David-inspired leatherman statue from Clementine's (St. Louis).[17]

Etienne Auditorium

The LA&M's Etienne Auditorium is used for the LA&M's annual Fetish Film Forum; leather-related contests, demonstrations, community meetings, and lectures; and as a place where leather groups and clubs can gather for free.[18][19]

The auditorium is named in honor of Dom Orejudos (who signed his artwork under the alias Etienne) and includes many of his murals from the Gold Coast bar, Man's Country bathhouse, and elsewhere.[20][21]

History

In August 1991, the LA&M was incorporated in the State of Illinois.[2]

Tony DeBlase served as Vice President of the Board of Directors of the LA&M from 1992 until 2000.[22]

The LA&M moved to its current location in 1999.[23] The site was previously home to a synagogue.[24]

In May 2006, the LA&M's executive director Rick Storer participated in a panel discussion entitled "Censorship & Sexually Explicit Materials" at the 2006 GLBT ALMS (Archives, Libraries, Museums and Special Collections) Conference.[25][26]

In May 2009, the LA&M announced that International Mr. Leather proceeds would be placed in a trust to benefit the museum.[27]

In 2009, the LA&M acquired the 25-box collection of papers of Robert Davolt, author and organizer of the San Francisco Pride leather contingent, and the editor of Bound & Gagged.[28][29]

In 2016, Chicago City Council designated September 18, 2016 as "LEATHER ARCHIVES & MUSEUM DAY" in honor of the museum's 25th anniversary (Resolution R2016-704).[30]

In 2019, several months before he died, Bill Schmeling donated all of his artwork, notes, and other materials to the LA&M.[4]

Wooden library shelves and wood study table with lamp. Many books line the shelves along with small human figurines. A sunlit window frames a stained glass outline of a human in leather vest and chaps.
Library reading room

Honors

The LA&M received the Large Nonprofit Organization of the Year award as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards in 1997, 2001, 2006, and 2011.[31]

Joseph Bean, while executive director of the LA&M, received the Man of the Year award as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards in 1998 and 2000,[32][33] and the Steve Maidhof Award for National or International Work from the National Leather Association International in 1998.[34]

Rick Storer, while executive director of the LA&M, received the President's Award as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards in 2005, the Man of the Year award as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards in 2008, the Mr. Marcus Hernandez Lifetime Achievement Award (Man) as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards in 2012, and the National Leather Association International Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.[25][33][35]

The LA&M received the International Deaf Leather Recognition Award in 2011.[36]

The LA&M was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 2017.[37]

The LA&M was inducted into the Leather Hall of Fame in 2019.[38]

Exhibits

red, blue, and black flag folded within a triangular storage case.
The prototype leather pride flag, created by Tony DeBlase in 1989, on display at the Leather Archives & Museum.

Past and present exhibits have included a Fakir Musafar exhibit; a Dungeon exhibit, showing some of the museum's artifacts in an erotic environment; a leather bar exhibit; and A Room of Her Own, an exhibit about women's leather history.[21][39][40]

In regard to the name of the A Room of Her Own exhibit, curator Alex Warner wrote,[41]

As I began work for the first exhibit installation of the Women's Leather History Project, I was excited that we were both literally and figuratively making room for Leatherwomen's history in the LA&M. It was out of this line of thinking that "A Room of Her Own" emerged, building on Virginia Woolf's 1929 feminist text A Room of One's Own that argues for women's need for space to think and create.

Other

Chuck Renslow, who died in 2017,[11] is listed as the Chairman In Memoriam of the LA&M.[42] The LA&M also gives out the Chuck Renslow President's Award to honor individuals and organizations for their contributions to the museum.[43]

References

  1. ↑ "About the LA&M - Leather Archives & Museum". Leatherarchives.org. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  2. 1 2 Ridinger, Robert (2005). "Founding of the Leather Archives & Museum". LGBT History, 1988-1992 [serial online]. LGBT Life with Full Text, EBSCOhost: 33–36.
  3. ↑ Shapiro, Gregg. (2011). "Leatherman's man: an interview with Chuck Renslow's biographer Owen Keehmen". Outlook: Columbus. LGBT Life with Full Text, EBSCOhost. 16 (1): 48. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  4. 1 2 3 Peregrin, Tony (18 February 2020). "Drawn together". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  5. 1 2 3 "KANE, "DRUMMER," AND DEBLASE — Rick Storer, Leather Archives & Museum — San Francisco Leathermen's Discussion Group". Sfldg.org. 2014-10-22. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  6. ↑ "Leather Archives & Museum Inc". IRS.
  7. ↑ "Research". leatherarchives.org. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  8. ↑ Mick O’Shea (3 August 2018). The Sex Pistols Invade America: The Fateful U.S. Tour, January 1978. McFarland. pp. 66–. ISBN 978-1-4766-3184-4.
  9. ↑ "The Leather Pride Flag - Leather Archives & Museum". Leatherarchives.org. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
  10. ↑ Baim, Tracy; Keehnen, Owen (2011). Leatherman: The Legend of Chuck Renslow. Prairie Avenue Productions. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-46109602-3.
  11. 1 2 Goldsborough, Bob. "Chuck Renslow, Chicago gay community icon and International Mr. Leather contest founder, dies at 87". Chicago Tribune.
  12. ↑ Bedwell, Michael (October 7, 2019). "Remembering transgender pioneer Christine Jorgensen". LGBTQ Nation.
  13. ↑ Materville Studios - Host of Windy City Times (2008-05-21). "Kris: The Physique Photography of Chuck Renslow - 12839 - Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News - Windy City Times". Windycitymediagroup.com. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  14. ↑ Rubin, Gayle; Wasdin, Gary. "Leather Archives and Museum". Leather Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  15. ↑ Lenius, Steve (2021-01-14). "Leather Life: Leather Archives & Museum to Celebrate 30th Anniversary | Lavender Magazine". Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  16. ↑ "Oral History Exhibit". leatherarchives.org. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  17. ↑ Rhodes, Adam M. (2020-10-29). "Gay bathhouses were barely surviving. And then came COVID-19". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  18. ↑ Madariya, Bhavin. "2023 Fetish Film Forum". leatherarchives.org. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  19. ↑ "The Etienne Auditorium - Leather Archives & Museum". Leatherarchives.org. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  20. ↑ Tracy Baim; Owen Keehnen (2011). Leatherman: The Legend of Chuck Renslow. Obama and the Gays. pp. 35–. ISBN 978-1-4610-9602-3.
  21. 1 2 "Exhibitions - Leather Archives & Museum". Leatherarchives.org. Archived from the original on 2021-08-18. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  22. ↑ Steve Lenius (2000-07-28). "Leather Life: Tony DeBlase, 1942-2000; Transitions article published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #135, July 28, 2000, by Joseph W. Bean". Leathercolumn.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  23. ↑ "Leather Archives & Museum | Museum Day | Smithsonian". Smithsonianmag.com. 1970-01-01. Archived from the original on 2019-12-18. Retrieved 2019-12-18.
  24. ↑ "CONGREGATION ENDS 10 YEARS OF WANDERING". Chicago Tribune. 25 October 1999. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  25. 1 2 "#508: The Evidence of Leather".
  26. ↑ "GLBT ALMS 2006 Conference Program". GLBT ALMS 2006 Conference Program. 2006.
  27. ↑ "Leather Archives & Museum Announcement". Twitter. 2009-05-25. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  28. ↑ "Robert W. Davolt". San Francisco Chronicle. 3 July 2005. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  29. ↑ Galloway, A. (2009). "Grants and Acquisitions". College & Research Libraries News. 70: 62. doi:10.5860/crln.70.1.8121.
  30. ↑ "Resolution R2016-704 -- Journal of the Proceedings of the City Council of the City of Chicago, Illinois -- Regular Meeting -- Wednesday, September 14, 2016". City of Chicago, Office of the City Clerk. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  31. ↑ 🖉"Pantheon of Leather Awards All Time Recipients - The Leather Journal". www.theleatherjournal.com. Archived from the original on 2015-03-25. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  32. ↑ "view a dia". www.museum.com. Archived from the original on 2020-09-21. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  33. 1 2 "Pantheon of Leather Awards All Time Recipients - The Leather Journal". www.theleatherjournal.com. Archived from the original on 2015-03-25. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  34. ↑ "List of winners - Living In Leather". livinginleather.net.
  35. ↑ "List of winners". NLA International. 2019-03-14. Archived from the original on 2020-06-26. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  36. ↑ "International Deaf Leather | AWARDS". July 4, 2021.
  37. ↑ Materville Studios - Host of Windy City Times (2017-11-09). "Hall of Fame induction strikes joyous notes - 729 - Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News - Windy City Times". Windycitymediagroup.com. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
  38. ↑ "> Inductees". Leatherhalloffame.com. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
  39. ↑ "The Dungeon Exhibit - Leather Archives & Museum". Leatherarchives.org. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  40. ↑ "The Leatherbar Exhibit - Leather Archives & Museum". Leatherarchives.org. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  41. ↑ "A Room of Her Own - Leather Archives & Museum". Leatherarchives.org. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  42. ↑ "Staff and Board - Leather Archives & Museum". Leatherarchives.org. 1999-06-28. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
  43. ↑ "President's Award - Leather Archives & Museum". Leatherarchives.org. 1987-03-21. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
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