Deep in the Leather Archives (Photos)

Photo 73

Do you enjoy being encased in skintight leather? Are your lover’s screams of distress like music to your ears? Can you still feel the welts on your back under your dress shirt at the office from the lashes you received last night?

Then you may already know about this off-the-beaten-path Chicago museum started 25 years ago by Chuck Renslow. But if you don’t — and shame, shame on you for not knowing — this weekend (September 16-18) the museum will host its 25th Anniversary Weekend. And the best news is that it is free!

Leather Archives & Museum executive director Rick Storer tells us, "Celebrating 25 Years of leather history is really a testament to the leather/BDSM/kink/fetish community's passion for their history. They recognize the importance of keeping their legacy safe and want to make sure it's available to the world."

The museum houses artifacts, art, clothing, research materials, and historical exhibits devoted to leather/BDSM/kink/fetish communities across a wide spectrum. A nonlending library is on-site, offering nonfiction, fiction, pulp fiction, art books, comic books/graphic novels, and more. 

The facility also includes a 164-seat auditorium that is used for public and private events and educational and entertainment programs. As part of the museum's outreach and programming, it hosts events ranging from scholarly lectures to kinky/foreign film festivals, and the museum offers the auditorium to local groups for use throughout the year. 

Check out the schedule of films and events here at the museum’s website. 

Special thanks to the LA&M and Adam Hart for these images of the collection.

Artwork by Etienne. On display in the LA&M's auditorium.

“Red Spanking Bench,” designed and built as a custom one-off by Lawrence

Left: Artwork by Daniel Byrne. Right: Artwork by Etienne. This banner — originally drawn in 1988 on paper — was reproduced in 1990 on canvas as part of the set for the International Mr. Leather contest.

Items from the Fakir Musafar exhibit at the LA&M.

Body Play magazine was published from 1992 to 1999. Fakir Musafar is considered to be the father of Modern Primitives, focusing his more than 50 years of research and personal exploration on primitive body decoration and rituals.

Photos and audio listening station located in the Fakir Musafar exhibit at the LA&M.

Left: Stained glass artwork [artist unknown]. Right: Sculpture of “leather David,” created by Mike Caffee, which was the symbol of longtime leather bar Febe's, located on Folsom Street in San Francisco.

A high-quality straitjacket (from the 1970s) from the J.T. Posey Co., located in Arcadia, Calif.

Posey is the premier restraint manufacturer for the health care industry. In the background, figure wearing a custom leather fetish dress.

Darby-style handcuffs and leg irons attached to a joining chain that runs between them.

Made of pot metal or steel, these cuffs were produced in post-war Britain by the Hiatt company in the 1950s.

Cover of Brat Attack, Issue #5.

Sensory deprivation mask (metal lined with rubber), belonging to Fakir Musafar.

"The Last Supper in a Gay Leather Bar With Judas Giving Christ the Finger" by artist Steven Brown.

Various paddles, whips, floggers, canes, and other implements.

A selection of pulp fiction paperbacks from the vast collection housed in the Teri Rose Memorial Library at the Leather Archives & Museum.

Leather titleholders are an important part of the public leather life.

Leather titleholders are an important part of the public leather life, and the LA&M houses a large collection of sashes. Included here are some examples of the wide range of titles — including local and national titles and sash styles — housed in the "A Room of Her Own" exhibit. 

Historical representations of women in leather, from the "A Room of Her Own" exhibit at LA&M.

22. Original poster for "Bloodsisters" film, directed by Michelle Handelman.

Close-up of sign in the Bondage Safety Quiz exhibit.

"Passion Carnival," one of the many pulp fiction paperbacks housed in the Teri Rose Memorial Library at the Leather Archives & Museum.

Passion Carnival, one of the many pulp fiction paperbacks housed in the Teri Rose Memorial Library at the Leather Archives & Museum.

Victor Childe as a Biker, movie still from Kenneth Anger's 1963 film, "Scorpio Rising".

Part of the Leather History Timeline exhibit at the Leather Archives & Museum. In the foreground is a section devoted to the Mr. Deaf International Leather competition.

Detail of patches and pins from various leather clubs and club runs from around the world.

Sign from old Gold Coast leather bar

Sign from old Gold Coast leather bar, once located at 501 N. Clark Street, with artwork by Etienne. Also picture: items from original bootblacking stand from the AA Meat Market.

Excalibur Cleveland sign.

Thunder Head Club leather sign.

A Chicago SLUTS (Society of Leatherwomyn United Towards Sadomasochism) sign.

Sign from the former . leather bar, which was active in Chicago during the 1960s.

Different types of handcuffs on display in the Bondage Safety Quiz exhibit.

Fliers for the International Ms. Leather contest.

Part of the Teri Rose Memorial Library at the Leather Archives & Museum. In the background, stained glass piece (artist unknown).

Bootblack case from the AA Meat Market

Bootblack case from the AA Meat Market, a leather bar that used to be located in Chicago. After the AA Meat Market closed, the case was used at the Chicago Eagle. 

Stained glass and graphite drawing

Ledft: Stained glass piece (artist unknown), located in the Teri Rose Memorial Library. Right: Art piece by Taylor Buck, graphite and ink, 2011. 

Auditorium at the Leather Archives & Museum, which seats 164 people for programming and events (such as lectures and film screenings) throughout the year.

The Leather Pride flag in stained glass

The Leather Pride flag in stained glass. Designed and donated by American Leatherboy, 1997, Max Steiner. Steiner decided years ago to never sell Leather Pride stained glass, and instead donates pieces to community fundraisers, like New York Leather Pride Night.