The Leather Archives & Museum (LA&M) is a community archives, library, and museum located in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Founded by Chuck Renslow and Tony DeBlase in 1991, its mission is "making leather, kink, BDSM, and fetish accessible through research, preservation, education and community engagement."^[1][2][3] The LA&M is a leading conservator of queer erotic art. Its permanent collection features some of the most iconic LGBT artists of the twentieth century, including most artwork by Bill Schmeling and many works by Dom Orejudos.^[4][5]

The LA&M is a 501(c)(3)-registered non-profit organization.^[6] Research assistance is available upon request.^[7]

The LA&M has the world's largest collection of original pieces by Dom Orejudos (Etienne), the entire personal collection of artwork and notes by Bill Schmeling (the Hun),^[4] as well as originals by Touko Valio Laaksonen (Tom of Finland), Charles Kerbs (MATT), and Olaf Odegaard.

LA&M also has one of three original leather pride flags created by Tony DeBlase in 1989;^[8] complete sets of the magazines Drummer (original run) and Bound & Gagged;^[5][9] and photos by Kris Studios, a male physique photography studio founded by Renslow and Orejudos (named in part to honor transgender pioneer Christine Jorgensen).^{[10][11][12][13]}

The collection includes notable writings such as the records of International Mr. Leather, the National Leather Association, and the Mineshaft, as well as the papers of Tony DeBlase^[5] and artifacts from numerous LGBT motorcycle clubs.^[14][15] Hundreds of oral history recordings, videos and transcripts are also available to researchers.^[16]

LA&M also displays ephemera from historic gay establishments, such as a glory hole from Man's Country (Chicago), a sign from the Mineshaft (New York City), and a David-inspired leatherman statue from Clementine's (St. Louis).^[17]

The LA&M's Etienne Auditorium is used for the LA&M's annual Fetish Film Forum; leather-related contests, demonstrations, community meetings, and lectures; and as a place where leather groups and clubs can gather for free.^[18][19]

The auditorium is named in honor of Dom Orejudos (who signed his artwork under the alias Etienne) and includes many of his murals from the Gold Coast bar, Man's Country bathhouse, and elsewhere.^[20][21]

In August 1991, the LA&M was incorporated in the State of Illinois.^[2] It held a ribbon cutting ceremony and its first public gallery show at 5007 N Clark Street on November 4, 1995. The LA&M moved to its current location (a former synagogue) in 1999.^[22][23]

Tony DeBlase served as Vice President of the Board of Directors of the LA&M from 1992 until 2000.^[24] In May 2006, the LA&M's executive director Rick Storer participated in a panel discussion entitled "Censorship & Sexually Explicit Materials" at the 2006 GLBT ALMS (Archives, Libraries, Museums and Special Collections) Conference.^[25][26]

In May 2009, the LA&M announced that International Mr. Leather proceeds would be placed in a trust to benefit the museum.^[27] That same year, the LA&M acquired the 25-box collection of papers of Robert Davolt, author and organizer of the San Francisco Pride leather contingent, and the editor of Bound & Gagged.^[28][29]

In 2016, Chicago City Council designated September 18, 2016 as "LEATHER ARCHIVES & MUSEUM DAY" in honor of the museum's 25th anniversary (Resolution R2016-704).^[30]

In 2019, several months before he died, Bill Schmeling donated all of his artwork, notes, and other materials to the LA&M.^[4]

The LA&M received the Large Nonprofit Organization of the Year award as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards in 1997, 2001, 2006, and 2011.^[31]

Joseph Bean, while executive director of the LA&M, received the Man of the Year award as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards in 1998 and 2000,^[32][33] and the Steve Maidhof Award for National or International Work from the National Leather Association International in 1998.^[34]

Rick Storer, while executive director of the LA&M, received the President's Award as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards in 2005, the Man of the Year award as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards in 2008, the Mr. Marcus Hernandez Lifetime Achievement Award (Man) as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards in 2012, and the National Leather Association International Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.^[25][33][35]

The LA&M received the International Deaf Leather Recognition Award in 2011.^[36]

The LA&M was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 2017.^[37]

The LA&M was inducted into the Leather Hall of Fame in 2019.^[38]

Past and present exhibits include a leather bar exhibit; Fakir Musafar; Rex;^[39] a Dungeon exhibit; and A Room of Her Own, an exhibit about women's leather history.^{[21][40][41][42]}

In regard to the name of the A Room of Her Own exhibit, curator Alex Warner wrote,^[42]

As I began work for the first exhibit installation of the Women's Leather History Project, I was excited that we were both literally and figuratively making room for Leatherwomen's history in the LA&M. It was out of this line of thinking that "A Room of Her Own" emerged, building on Virginia Woolf's 1929 feminist text A Room of One's Own that argues for women's need for space to think and create.

Chuck Renslow, who died in 2017,^[11] is listed as the Chairman In Memoriam of the LA&M.^[43] The LA&M also gives out the Chuck Renslow President's Award to honor individuals and organizations for their contributions to the museum.^[44]