Leather Archives and Museum

The Leather Archives & Museum (LA&M), based in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, United States, is "the first formally organized archival collection of artifacts, ephemera, and other materials relating specifically to the history and subculture of the leather community was founded by longtime activist Chuck Renslow in Chicago in 1991." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]. The LA & M has much information and details on the beginning of the leather subculture and BDSM community. The 10,000 sq ft (930 m²), two-story building houses:

In addition to activities in Chicago, the LA&M serves the leather world by preserving material from all leather communities, sending “traveling” exhibits around the country, and providing email and telephone research assistance.

In May 2006, Executive Director, Rick Storer participated in a panel discussion entitles "Censorship & Sexually Explicit Materials" at the 2006 GLBT ALMS (Archives, Libraries, Museums and Special Collections) Conference.

In May 2009, the LA&M announced that International Mister Leather (IML) would be placed in a trust to benefit the museum. All proceeds from IML would go towards preserving leather history.

In 2009, The Leather Archives and Museum at Northern Illinois University acquired the 25-box collection of papers of Robert Davolt.

The Leather Archives & Museum is a library, museum and archives pertaining to leather, fetishism, sadomasochism, and alternative sexual practices. The geographic collection scope is worldwide and includes all sexual orientations and genders. The library collection contains published books, magazines, scholarly publications, films and electronic resources related to the subject matter. The museum collection contains original erotic art and artifacts from alternative sex organizations and individuals. The archival collection contains unpublished papers and records from notable activists, artists, businesses and organizations related to the subject matter.

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