PANtheDRAGON
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LA&M: Located in Chicago, Serving the World
www.leatherarchives.org
[Note from PANtheDRAGON: For the many whose first portal into the complex world of S&M has been through the internet, "Leather" is an older term used to discribe the community and lifestyle of BDSM enthusiasts.]
Mission Statement
"The compilation, preservation and maintenance of leather lifestyle and related lifestyles [including but not limited to the Gay and Lesbian communities], history, archives and memorabilia for historical, educational and research purposes."
History of the LA&M
The Leather Archives and Museum is a vital institution for the future of the Leather Communities of the world. In the collections, libraries and archives housed by the LA&M, generations of leather men and women will find the stories, artifacts and information of their forebears. They will be allowed to build on, rather than reinvent, the traditions and truths of those who lived leather/SM/fetish lives before their own.
It was in August 1991 that the LA&M was incorporated in the state of Illinois. From that date until May 1993, the Leather Archives was, in effect, an idea struggling to take form. In 1993, 1994 and 1995, the LA&M existed as a growing collection and appeared in public only as exhibits at International Mr. Leather in Chicago (plus a couple of abortive attempts to appear on the road). In fact, most members of the Leather Communities of the world - even in North America - were still unaware of the LA&M. In 1996, a storefront home for the LA&M was opened in Chicago. Much larger exhibits were mounted in this space, but the collection outgrew the space very rapidly. Even using several off-site storage spaces, it was not possible to provide space for both the collections and reasonable exhibit space.
In July 1997, Joseph W. Bean arrived to take on the job of Executive Director of the LA&M. Within three months, he had started a series of changing exhibits and proposed to the Board of Directors a capital campaign to raise funds to buy a building. The capital campaign was announced in December of 1997, and met with immediate success.
The building purchase at 6418 N. Greenview is being achieved 100% by leatherfolk, with no funding or support from any government body or foundation. As of May 2002, the community is in the final stretch toward owning the building. In August of 2004, we hope to make the final balloon payment and burn the paper our mortgage is written on.
In January of 2002, Joseph Bean retired from the LA&M, and then volunteer Rick Storer was hired to continue the work started by Bean and the entire leather community.
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.
The Museum itself is open Thursday 12pm - 8pm, Saturday 12pm - 3pm, Sunday 12pm - 3pm and by special engagement (call the office to make an appointment). There is no charge for admission, but donations are always welcome. The 10,000 sq. foot, two-story building houses:
A 2,100 sq. foot main exhibition gallery
A 1,425 sq. foot climate controlled archival storage space
A 164 seat auditorium
A 600 square foot library to house the research collections
Various other spaces which serve as working space for staff, volunteers and researchers.
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Leather Archives & Museum - 
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