Leather Archives & Museum

In 1991, Dom Orejudos, Chuck Renslow's partner of 40 years, died from AIDS-related complications. When Orejudos was alive, Renslow had begun selling off some of his art to pay for medical treatment, but upon his death, Renslow was determined to preserve Orejudos's art and legacy. although multiple museums expressed interest in his art, they wished to pick and choose specific artworks, whereas Renslow wished to keep the collection intact. some families of AIDS victims intentionally erased their leather and fetish legacies because they found it "sick or perverse." They could afford only $3,000 of the $60,000 down payment required to buy the Greenview Ave property, so they appealed to International Mr. Leather attendees, who raised $58,000 in donations in a single night. Over the next five years, the community raised the funds necessary to pay off the mortgage. In May 2006, the LA&M's executive director Rick Storer participated in a panel discussion entitled "Censorship & Sexually Explicit Materials" at the 2006 LGBTQ Archives, Libraries, Museums and Special Collections (ALMS) Conference. In May 2009, the LA&M announced that International Mr. Leather proceeds would be placed in a trust to benefit the museum. The museum also receives funding from other leather events including Cleveland Annual Leather Weekend (CLAW) and Mid-Atlantic Leather (MAL) in D.C. In 2024, the LA&M announced a capital campaign to renovate the museum, including the addition of dedicated research space, flexible event space, and ADA-compliant accessibility. == Collection ==

It is estimated that just one percent of the museum's collection is on display at any given time. Drawings and illustrations The LA&M has the world's largest collection of original work by Dom Orejudos (Etienne). In 2019, Bill Schmeling (the Hun) donated his entire personal collection of artwork and notes. Gerard Donelan, David Grieger, Beau Lee James, Charles Kerbs (MATT), Michael Kirwan, John Klamik (Sean), Touko Valio Laaksonen (Tom of Finland), Mike Miksche (Steve Masters), Olaf Odegaard, Jacki Randall, Al Shapiro (A. Jay), Joe T, Dennis Walsh, and Bill Ward. One of the museum's largest paintings is The Last Supper In a Gay Leather Bar With Judas Giving Christ the Finger by Steven Brown, inspired by the artist's struggle to reconcile faith and sexuality. It also has photographs by Kenneth Anger, Efrain J. Gonzalez, Adam Kozik, Literature LA&M holds complete sets of the magazines Drummer (original run) and Bound & Gagged. 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 former editor of Bound & Gagged. The collection includes records of leather and fetish organizations such as Chicago Hellfire Club, Conversio Virium, International Mr. Leather, Mineshaft, MIR (formerly Mr. International Rubber), National Leather Association, as well as the papers of Tony DeBlase. and Larry Townsend are also available to researchers. Artifacts The collection includes artifacts (such as vests, patches and pins) from and leather clubs from around the world, including Centurions of Columbus, Crucible MC, Empire City MC, Rochester Rams MC, Stallions MC, and Wheels MC. LA&M also displays ephemera from historic gay establishments, such as a glory hole from Man's Country in Chicago, and a dress code sign from the Mineshaft in New York City. These include IMBB 1994 William Shields, Jr.'s bootblacking kit, IMBB 2000 David Hawk's bootblacking chair, and a bootblacking chair used by Harry Shattuck and ‘Daddy’ William Shields, Jr. in gay bars in Chicago, Boston, Providence and New York City between the 1990s and 2000s. Body modification artifacts in the collection include Cliff Raven's tattooing memorabilia; stories, artwork, and stencils by Samuel Steward; publications by Fakir Musafar; and photographs belonging to Sailor Sid Diller. Gallery ==Facilities==

Auditorium plaque (2024) Etienne Auditorium The LA&M contains a 164-seat auditorium named in honor of Dom Orejudos (who signed his artwork under the alias Etienne); the auditorium is adorned with original Etienne artwork from the Gold Coast bar, Man's Country bathhouse, and elsewhere. The auditorium is a hub for leather- and fetish-related events, community meetings, and lectures. The event space is available to rent for a fee, but is made available for free for small not-for-profit community group gatherings. Teri Rose Memorial Library The Teri Rose Memorial Library, opened in 2005, allows visitors and researchers free access to a wide variety of books, periodicals, and catalogs. and 100 journals. The gift shop has a small physical presence in the museum as well as an online store. ==Recognition==

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). The LA&M was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 2017. The LA&M has received numerous honors and awards from leather organizations, including: • Pantheon of Leather Awards - Large Nonprofit Organization of the Year: 1997, 2001, 2006, and 2011. • International Deaf Leather Recognition Award: 2011. • Induction into Leather Hall of Fame: 2019. LA&M leaders have also received numerous honors: • Chuck Renslow, who died in 2017, The LA&M also gives out the Chuck Renslow President's Award to honor individuals and organizations for their contributions to the museum. • 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, and the Steve Maidhof Award for National or International Work from National Leather Association International in 1998. • 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. ==Exhibits==

Past and present exhibits include: • Fakir Musafar (2016) • Verboten: Works by Rex (2021) • The Golden Era: Leather, Levi and Motorcycle Clubs (2021) In regard to the name of A Room of Her Own, curator Alex Warner wrote: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. == See also ==