Leather Archives & Museum

@leatherarchives

A Chicago-based research archive, library and museum dedicated to the preservation of leather, kink, fetish and BDSM community history.

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Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· 22d

This Wednesday is another Gear Happy Hour from 4 - 7pm at the Chicago Eagle! Then stay for our second Exploring Kink class, Impact Play 101 with Master Leather Redux and Raea! 7 - 8:30pm See you there!

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· 25d

Sister Mysteria was a professional dominant and one of the 1st female members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. She raised funds for HIV/AIDS with Sister Dana at the 1st Up Your Alley Fair and competed at the 1st International Ms. Leather contest. Sister Mysteria died on July 16, 2011. 🖤

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· 25d

Warren W. West was an analytic chemist and biochemist. He was collared by Joseph Bean in 1992. West died on July 17, 1994 of AIDS. 🖤

White man smiling softly, face down on white sheets.

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· 28d

Victor Manuel Magide (left, with Vern Stewart) was a photographer who specialized in fashion, celebrity, and erotic photography. Magide was Deaf and fluent in three languages.

Man with light brown skin and thick dark facial hair wearing spiked leather harness with Black man wearing uniform shirt and tie.

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· 28d

Happy Non-Binary People's Day! 💛🤍💜🖤

Black person wearing leather body suit, overlaid with non-binary pride flag.

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· 29d

Bob Guenther (right) was a programmer of computer mainframes, a pianist and organist, a science fiction fan, and a generous supporter and leader of organizations including SigMa and Brother Help Thyself, a charitable club that raised millions of dollars for LGBTQ causes. Bob died on July 11, 2022. 🖤

White man with light mustache and short hair smiling in large cage outside at event

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jul 10

Quote from The ties that bind are fragile and often imaginary by Jules Rosskam (in Women & Performance Vol 20 No 3, 2010). Photo from Fetter Vol 2 (1988).

Person wearing tape mask with makeup painted on in stages. Text: We often expect or want one word to hold too many meanings and ultimately, when that word breaks open from the weight of our collective longings, we are disappointed and go off in search of another word we can destroy. Sometimes, when we find that someone else whose identity is not exactly like ours uses the same word to describe him or herself, we feel we are made invisible, our identity erased.

This is where identity politics gets messy. If Thomas [Beatie] calls himself FTM and I do too but we both have radically different conceptions of what that means, who is awarded authenticity and is thus allowed to claim this word for himself? Is it a matter of history? Should we attempt to un-surface the etymology of FTM (which probably isn't too difficult) and then award the authenticity trophy to the identity that claimed it first? Or do we acknowledge that words and communities are constantly in flux, that tearing down one member of the community to build yourself up is never useful, and never gets you anywhere in the struggle?]

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jul 10

We had an excellent turnout for our first Knotty Nights at Chicago Eagle! @chicagoeagle Thank you to everyone who came to support, a special thanks to our instructor, @myfroghashat, and to @chicagoeagle for hosting us!

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jul 9

Jeff Britton, Tam, and Kit at the 1993 March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation. Photo by C. Artemis from The Inquisitor (Winter 1994).

Three people wearing leather vests, one Black man sitting in a wheelchair outside and two butch white people embracing on ground.

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jul 9

Pat McCarty owned and operated Gay Mart in New Orleans in the 1990s. McCarty received the 2000 Pantheon of Leather President's Award for his community service. He was an associate of the Chicago Hellfire Club and involved in other clubs. McCarty died of cancer on July 9, 2004 at age 49. 🖤

[Patrick Edward McCarty, 49, succumbed to cancer on July 9, 2004 at his home in New Orleans. Pat McCarty owned and operated Gay Mart and a private dungeon above the store in New Orleans in the 1990s. Pat received a President's Award at Pantheon of Leather in 2000 for his community service. He was an associate member of the Chicago Hellfire Club and a member or associate member of numerous other clubs and organizations. A memorial service for Pat was held on Sunday, July 18 at Tau House in New Or...]

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jul 8

Warren Ennis was president of the California Motor Club and an honorary member of Warlocks MC and Satyrs MC. Ennis volunteered at many bike events. He owned a kitchen and restaurant design business in Los Angeles.

[Warren Ennis July 8, 1927-July 5, 1991. Warren died at the Veterans Adminstration Hospital in Long Beach, Calif., following a prolonged battle with AIDS. Warren was a shaker and doer in the bike clubs from the very beginning of club activities. He was president of the California Motor Club (CMC) when it was incorporated in 1966. He was also an honorary member of the Warlocks MC and the Satyrs MC.]

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jul 7

Quote from The Taming of the Id: Feminist Sexual Politics, 1968-83 by Alice Echols (in Pleasure and Danger ed. Carol S. Vance, 1984). Photo from Hogtie Vol 2 No 2 (1972).

Blonde woman tied with rope. Text: [In order to develop a truly transformative sexual politics we must once again resist the familiarity of sexual repression and the platitudes about male and female sexuality. But we must also break with the radical feminist tradition which encourages us to subordinate sexuality to political ideology, treating out sexuality as an ugly blemish which with vigilance and time might be overcome. We must abandon the belief so deeply entrenched in the feminist community that particular sexual expressions are intrinsically liberated or intrinsically degraded.]

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jul 7

Robert Opel (left) was a photographer and owner of Fey-Way Studios in San Francisco, the city's first gay erotic art gallery.

Two white people with dark hair. Robert is wearing a button up shirt and fleece jacket.

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jul 6

Wes Randall was a manager of The Cuff. He was titled Washington State Mr. Leather 1991 and Northwest Drummer 1995. He co-founded Generic Leather Productions, Seattle Men in Leather, and Washington State Leather Pride Week. Randall died of AIDS on July 6, 1999. 🖤

White man with blonde mustache wearing leather vest, boots and cap, holding a knife.

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jul 6

Joni Perry (center) was titled Ms. Georgia Olympus, International Ms. Olympus Leather 2000 and International Ms Leather 2001.

White thin blonde woman wearing a leather dress and sash standing on platform with two others.

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jul 5

This Wednesday, meet us at @chicagoeagle for our first Knotty Nights class after the new Gear Happy Hour! Wednesday, July 8th, 7-8:30pm. Our first class is called “Intro To Bar Bondage” w/ @myfroghashat.bsky.social 🪢🖤💙

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jul 3

Mason Timmons was an officer of The Journeymen and an associate member of the Utica Tri's MC and Rochester Rams. Timmons was titled Mr. Upstate New York 1996 and competed at Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather and International Mr. Leather.

Three white male winners of a leather contest wearing medallions, center man holding a trophy.

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jul 2

Another film to put on your radar that we are excited about! I WANT YOUR S*X opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, July 31. There is a chance to attend a special advanced screening ahead of the official opening on Monday, July 27! #IWantYourSex #IWYS

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jul 2

Eddie Cunningham (right) worked in printing and publishing. He co-founded the Celestial Krewe de Cuir with his partner Wally Sherwood (left) and was involved with many leather events and clubs. Cunningham organized the Northern California Leather Awards benefit. Cunningham died on June 2, 1999. 🖤

Two white men at a festival, one little person wearing a leather harness and cap and one tall person wearing a leather outfit with a collar and nose ring.

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jul 1

We’re excited to partner with @chicagoeagle for a new weekly social, Gear Happy Hour! Join us for Gear Happy Hour at the Chicago Eagle every Wednesday from 4 - 7pm! Stay afterwards from 7 - 8:30pm for special Kink Classes happening throughout the month:

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jul 1

Benjamin Feathers, aka Pup Fenrir, was a manager at Men's Room Chicago for six years. He was involved in the Chicago leather community and could often be found at Sidetrack, Charlie's Chicago or The Cell Block. Feathers died on July 1, 2023. 🖤

Smiling white man wearing a plaid shirt. He has a shaved head and brown beard.

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jul 1

Happy Birthday, Dom! Dom “Etienne” Orejudos was an artist, ballet dancer, and choreographer. He co-founded International Mr. Leather with Chuck Renslow and through his published art helped to popularize leather culture from the 1960s through the 1980s.

Young muscular man with dark hair and light skin riding a motorcycle and wearing a leather shirt.

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jul 1

Saikatsu taught rope bondage classes at Black Heart in Toyko and wrote a series of instructional articles for SM Mania Club. He was trained by Akechi Denki in the early 1980s. Photo by Sin. Saikatsu died on July 1, 2024. 🖤

Japanese man with great hair preparing to tie woman kneeling in peach kimono.

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jul 1

Happy July! Our building may be closed for renovations, but we still have a lot of events around Chicago! View what’s happening here and get more details at our events calendar on our website 💙🖤⛓️ Leatherarchives.org

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jun 30

Cathy Caruso was a leatherwoman from Seattle. Cathy owned several customized classic cars and was always the last rider in the Dykes on Bikes contingent of the Seattle Pride Parade.

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jun 30

Quote from Dry Bones Breathe by Eric Rofes (1998). Photo by Malexpress Ltd from Mach magazine (1983).

Two white letterman hugging. Text: [Many gay men worked tirelessly in the 1980s and 1990s to create lives beyond crisis and construct communities beyond suffering. They've done so, not because they are uncaring or seek to avoid the epidemic - many of these men are HIV positive - but because they are aware that people defined by terror and loss cannot build viable forms of community over the long haul.]

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jun 29

Barry Joseph "Biejay" Brewitt served in the Army Medical Corps and worked for Westin Hotels. Biejay was a cofounder and long-time officer of Tribe MC, and a member of the Chicago Hellfire Club.

[What is a Biejay? How do you describe a nonpareil? To compare him to anyone else is an exercise in futility. Biejay is Biejay. He is probably one of the best known members of the Detroit L/L scene. His unusual name may be what makes him remembered, but I think there is more to it than that. He is totally uninhibited and extroverted, but he avoids the pitfall of being aggressive in the offensive sense of that word. Anywhere you go, at least in the Eastern half of the U.S., someone knows him. He makes a point of meeting new people and remembering the old. He will go out of his way to spend time with someone in the bar who seems to be alone. He told me once that he will talk to anyone. He said that some of his best conversations have been with the old, the fat, the ugly: the apparent misfits of our society who are outside the man stream, but who have much to offer in intellect or warmth. I have seen him miss a trick because he has taken the time to make a shy outsider feel welcome.

Speaking of tricks, Biejay has to be one of the most sexually active people I know. But only the the envious can call him promiscuous. He never tricks for the sake of tricking. He is not one of those people who panics at two o'clock because he hasn't scored yet and grabs anything he can get. While he rarely goes without a partner, it is not a compulsion. At "group therapy" sessions, he is usually in the middle of the action, but never in a rapacious way to exclude others from enjoyment.

Biejay is present captain of the TRIBE and was one of the founding members of that group. He has been active in the Detroit club scene since the prototype of the Detroit L/L Clubs was organized...]

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jun 28

Jason Hall was titled Mr. Philadelphia Leather 2015 and competed at International Mr. Leather where he made a speech denouncing body shaming in the community. He was the director of Curatorial Affairs and Education for the Battleship USS New Jersey. Hall died on June 28, 2018. 🖤

Pin with illustration of a bearded man and text I stand with Jason / don’t be an asshole.

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jun 28

Happy birthday, Thom! Thomas Raymond Dombkowski (right) was a leatherman and HIV/AIDS activist.

Write man wearing cable knit sweater on boat with his boyfriend, a Black man wearing a wicker hat and holding a stuffed pig toy.

Leather Archives & Museum@leatherarchives· Jun 27

The 540 Club aka 540 Eagle was Canton's oldest gay bar when it was destroyed by a fire early on June 27, 2005. The archive of The Iron Eagles leather club was lost in the fire. Article text from The Leather Journal Issue 184.