The Leather Archives & Museum, located in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, United States, was founded by Chuck Renslow and Tony DeBlase in 1991, “as a community archives, library, and museum of Leather, kink, fetish, and BDSM history and culture.” Its mission statement reads, “Making leather, kink, BDSM, and fetish accessible through research, preservation, education and community engagement.” It is a 501 organization. In addition to activities in Chicago, the LA&M sends "traveling" exhibits around the country, and provides email and telephone research assistance. The LA&M is open to those 18 years old or older due to the adult nature of some of its contents.
Permanent exhibits
The permanent exhibits at the LA&M are the Fakir Musafar exhibit, the Dungeon exhibit, the Leatherbar exhibit, and the A Room of Her Own exhibit. In regard to the name of the A Room of Her Own exhibit, curator Alex Warner has written, “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 that argues for women’s need for space to think and create.”
Etienne auditorium
The LA&M has the Etienne auditorium, which is used for the LA&M film series, Cinekink, the German Fetisch Film Festival, leather-related contests, demonstrations, community meetings, lectures, and as a place where leather groups and clubs can gather for free. The auditorium has numerous murals done by Dom Orejudos, who used the pseudonym Etienne, the French equivalent of his middle name Stephen.
Notable items
The LA&M has the world’s biggest collection of original pieces by Dom Orejudos under the name Etienne, some Touko Valio Laaksonen originals, and complete sets of the magazines Drummer and Bound & Gagged. It also has one of three original leather pride flags which the flag's creator Tony DeBlase assembled as a prototype, and all of the artwork, notes, and other materials of Bill Schmeling. The LA&M also has notable writings such as the records of International Mr. Leather, National Leather Association, and the Mineshaft, and the papers of Tony DeBlase. It also has all photos by Kris Studios, a male physique photography studio founded by Chuck Renslow and Dom Orejudos, that took photos for gay magazines they published. The studio was named in part to honor transgender pioneer Christine Jorgensen. Renslow later co-founded the LA&M with Tony DeBlase.
History
In August 1991, the LA&M was incorporated in the state of Illinois. The LA&M moved into its current building in 1999. 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 Conference. In May 2009, the LA&M announced that International Mister Leather proceeds would be placed in a trust to benefit the museum. 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. In 2015, LA&M curator Rick Storer was given the National Leather Association InternationalLifetime Achievement Award. In 2017, the LA&M was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame. In July of 2019, Bill Schmeling donated all of his artwork, notes, and other materials to the LA&M, shortly before he died in September. Also in 2019, the LA&M was inducted into the Leather Hall of Fame.
Honors
The LA&M was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 2017. LA&M curator Rick Storer was given the National Leather Association International Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. The LA&M was inducted into the Leather Hall of Fame in 2019.
