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Inside The Leather Archives & Museum The Museum is open to visitors & researchers on:
Last admission to the exhibits is 30 minutes before closing time
We are closed all major US holidays.
Administrative Office hours:
Administrative Staff:
Mailing Address:
6418 North Greenview Ave.
Tax ID (FEIN): 36-3841874
The LA&M is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a charity under the 501(c)(3) provisions. This means that monetary donations as well as donations to the collections are tax deductible subject to IRS rules and regulations. While the LA&M is pursuing grant opportunities, we rely on the community whose history is being preserved for support. The LA&M operational expenses consist of archival and exhibit supplies, utility bills necessary to maintain appropriate environmental conditions, exhibit freight expenses, and administrative expenses.
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." Policies of the LA&M
Collections 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 The archival collection contains unpublished papers and records from notable activists, artists, businesses and organizations related to the subject matter. Notable library resources include the writings of the Marquis de Sade, Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, Laura Antoniou, John Preston and Larry Townsend. Complete sets of Drummer Magazine, Bound & Gagged, SandMutopia Guardian and other periodicals are also available in the library. Notable museum artifacts include original works by Tom of Finland, the largest collection of original Etienne works in the world, historic sadomasochism and sexual devices, and colors (patches worn on the back of leather vests) from hundreds of existing and former Gay and Lesbian motorcycle clubs, leather clubs and sex clubs. A complete inventory of photographs taken by Kris Studios, a legendary publisher of physique photographs in the 1950s also resides at the LA&M. Notable archival collections include the papers of Tony DeBlase, Joseph Bean, Jim Kane, Leondard Dworkin and the records of The National Leather Association, International Mr. Leather, and The Mineshaft. History of the LA&M In August 1991, 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. 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 LA&M moved into its permanent home in late 1999. The 10,000 sq. foot building provided for exhibits and the effective storage of the ever-growing collection of leather history. 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 August of 2004, the leather community made a $225,000 balloon payment to pay off the mortgage of the LA&M. Also during 2004, the exhibit space was expanded from one 2,000 sq. foot gallery to a full building tour of eight galleries.
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Thursday from 11am - 7pm