Leather Archives & Museum
@leatherarchives.bsky.social
A Chicago-based research archive, library and museum dedicated to the preservation of leather, kink, fetish and BDSM community history.
Aubrey Hart Sparks was a writer and activist. He held 4 leather titles including Seattle Mr. Leather and was a co-director of the Leather Pride Project. From 1999-2004, he produced Aubrey's Playroom, an internet talk show. Sparks founded The Tony DeBlase Memorial Scholarship Fund.
November 26, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Aubrey Hart Sparks was a writer and activist. He held 4 leather titles including Seattle Mr. Leather and was a co-director of the Leather Pride Project. From 1999-2004, he produced Aubrey's Playroom, an internet talk show. Sparks founded The Tony DeBlase Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Allena Gabosch was a sex-positive activist, business owner, and educator. Gabosch co-owned the Beyond the Edge Cafe in Seattle, was the executive director of the Lesbian Cancer Project, and founder and executive director of the Center for Sex Positive Culture.
November 25, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Allena Gabosch was a sex-positive activist, business owner, and educator. Gabosch co-owned the Beyond the Edge Cafe in Seattle, was the executive director of the Lesbian Cancer Project, and founder and executive director of the Center for Sex Positive Culture.
LA&M will be closed for Thanksgiving this week! We will reopen Friday, Nov. 28th. Join us that evening for our Gear Night! Weather permitting, we will also have our cigar patio open as well for a cigar social!
November 24, 2025 at 5:56 PM
LA&M will be closed for Thanksgiving this week! We will reopen Friday, Nov. 28th. Join us that evening for our Gear Night! Weather permitting, we will also have our cigar patio open as well for a cigar social!
Ollie Allman was a member of Centaur MC.
November 24, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Ollie Allman was a member of Centaur MC.
Howard Fleming (left), pictured here with his partner Roger, was a charter member of the Utica Tri's, and member of the Rochester Rams, Ottawa Knights, and American Legion. Fleming co-produced American Brotherhood Weekend.
November 23, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Howard Fleming (left), pictured here with his partner Roger, was a charter member of the Utica Tri's, and member of the Rochester Rams, Ottawa Knights, and American Legion. Fleming co-produced American Brotherhood Weekend.
Quote from On Becoming a Leatherwoman by Michele A. Buchanan. Photo by Efrain J. Gonzalez from Buchanan's collection at the LA&M. #LeatherWomen
![Michele is a Black woman with a serious expression and short hair. She is wearing pearls and a floorlength robe or dress with a V-neck and stiff collar. She is sitting on a floral patterned chair next to a candelabra. Text: [When you are no longer willing to be someone else and live someone else's life in return for respectability, when your mind and your body are so changed that both a kiss and a blow can make you vibrate, when you find yourself on the street in plain clothes in a strange city and you see a man or woman dressed in leather and you meet that person's eyes and nod, and that person nods back, then you have become a leatherwoman.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:iyfco36opjofallgh4axztsd/bafkreid7f5s32akk2l25pbtx4kzt36t22ijvfn6v4lbnzmlznhb3c2grli@jpeg)
November 22, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Quote from On Becoming a Leatherwoman by Michele A. Buchanan. Photo by Efrain J. Gonzalez from Buchanan's collection at the LA&M. #LeatherWomen
Bedford Elias Aiken III, better known as Skip Aiken, was a gay activist. He was a computer programmer and volunteer sign language interpreter. Aiken was one of the first members of the Society of Janus, and was an active member of the Gay Men's Chorus and Alcoholic's Anonymous.
![[Many Janus members will be grieved to learn of the death of Skip Aiken, former member of Janus, and writer of at least one of our position papers which is still in print. Skip died on November 22, during a coronary surgery, according to a notice in the Bay Area Reporter of December 5.
He was a Quaker, opposed war, loved to wear military uniforms, and fervently believed that taking personal responsibility is more empowering and effective than marching in the streets.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:iyfco36opjofallgh4axztsd/bafkreic7fdkswvz4bc7ewdou5auy2biawvtde7xhqhgxrlmqlqrwqsbabm@jpeg)
November 22, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Bedford Elias Aiken III, better known as Skip Aiken, was a gay activist. He was a computer programmer and volunteer sign language interpreter. Aiken was one of the first members of the Society of Janus, and was an active member of the Gay Men's Chorus and Alcoholic's Anonymous.
Happy Stuffing Day from the LA&M! According to Days of the Year, "the best way to celebrate stuffing day is to spend the whole day doing new and innovative things with stuffing!"
Artwork by Dom "Etienne" Orejudos, from his collection at the Leather Archives & Museum.
Artwork by Dom "Etienne" Orejudos, from his collection at the Leather Archives & Museum.
November 21, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Happy Stuffing Day from the LA&M! According to Days of the Year, "the best way to celebrate stuffing day is to spend the whole day doing new and innovative things with stuffing!"
Artwork by Dom "Etienne" Orejudos, from his collection at the Leather Archives & Museum.
Artwork by Dom "Etienne" Orejudos, from his collection at the Leather Archives & Museum.
Today on this day in 1982, The Border Riders MC and the San Francisco Eagle had a Chicken Fundraiser for the Kaposi's Sarcoma Foundation, with chicken, a beer bust, and surprises.
November 21, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Today on this day in 1982, The Border Riders MC and the San Francisco Eagle had a Chicken Fundraiser for the Kaposi's Sarcoma Foundation, with chicken, a beer bust, and surprises.
James Seabourn aka Sinbad was was a board member of Oklahoma Power Exchange and Oklahoma LeatherFest.
November 21, 2025 at 3:31 PM
James Seabourn aka Sinbad was was a board member of Oklahoma Power Exchange and Oklahoma LeatherFest.
Today on this Day in 1994, The Black Guard of Minneapolis had their 18th annual Chili Feed, a fundraiser with kegs, chili, happy hour, chili, door prizes, chili, their famous jail, and chili.
November 20, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Today on this Day in 1994, The Black Guard of Minneapolis had their 18th annual Chili Feed, a fundraiser with kegs, chili, happy hour, chili, door prizes, chili, their famous jail, and chili.
Sadao Hasegawa was an influential Japanese gay artist. He has his first solo exhibition in 1973 and was published in Japanese gay magazines. Hasegawa's influences included Go Mishima, Tom of Finland, Tamotsu Yato, mythology and spirituality.
November 20, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Sadao Hasegawa was an influential Japanese gay artist. He has his first solo exhibition in 1973 and was published in Japanese gay magazines. Hasegawa's influences included Go Mishima, Tom of Finland, Tamotsu Yato, mythology and spirituality.
Tammad Rimilia aka "The Gentleman Barbarian" published essays and instructional guides about bondage, the kink community and other topics online throughout the 1990s.
November 20, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Tammad Rimilia aka "The Gentleman Barbarian" published essays and instructional guides about bondage, the kink community and other topics online throughout the 1990s.
George Edward Saunders Whiting was a gay leather activist. He served in the Royal Air Force during World War II before settling in British Columbia. Whiting founded Vancouver Activists in S/M (VASM) in 1982 and was presented with two Pantheon of Leather awards.
November 20, 2025 at 3:43 PM
George Edward Saunders Whiting was a gay leather activist. He served in the Royal Air Force during World War II before settling in British Columbia. Whiting founded Vancouver Activists in S/M (VASM) in 1982 and was presented with two Pantheon of Leather awards.
Transgender Day of Remembrance was founded in 1999 to mourn and honor those whose lives have been lost to transphobic violence.
November 20, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Transgender Day of Remembrance was founded in 1999 to mourn and honor those whose lives have been lost to transphobic violence.
Frazier Botsford was a musician, voice actor, and kink community organizer. He founded and helped operate The Crucible in Washington DC and was one of the creators of Camp Crucible and the Leather Flea & Play party.
November 19, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Frazier Botsford was a musician, voice actor, and kink community organizer. He founded and helped operate The Crucible in Washington DC and was one of the creators of Camp Crucible and the Leather Flea & Play party.
We are happy to partner with Heaux History to collect donations!
Stop by the Leather Archives & Museum to put your donations in the drop off bin this week!
Cash donations also welcome at $HEAUXHISTORYPROJECT (Cashapp or Venmo)
Stop by the Leather Archives & Museum to put your donations in the drop off bin this week!
Cash donations also welcome at $HEAUXHISTORYPROJECT (Cashapp or Venmo)
November 18, 2025 at 8:55 PM
We are happy to partner with Heaux History to collect donations!
Stop by the Leather Archives & Museum to put your donations in the drop off bin this week!
Cash donations also welcome at $HEAUXHISTORYPROJECT (Cashapp or Venmo)
Stop by the Leather Archives & Museum to put your donations in the drop off bin this week!
Cash donations also welcome at $HEAUXHISTORYPROJECT (Cashapp or Venmo)
Check out these fetish hankies from The Haunted Disco! They made them by licensing a few pieces of Etienne's art and they turned out great!
Check them out here -> www.thehaunteddisco.com/collections/...
Check them out here -> www.thehaunteddisco.com/collections/...
November 18, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Check out these fetish hankies from The Haunted Disco! They made them by licensing a few pieces of Etienne's art and they turned out great!
Check them out here -> www.thehaunteddisco.com/collections/...
Check them out here -> www.thehaunteddisco.com/collections/...
Loren Rex Cameron was a photographer, educator, and trans activist. Cameron's autobiographical book of portraiture, Body Alchemy, was published in 1996.
November 18, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Loren Rex Cameron was a photographer, educator, and trans activist. Cameron's autobiographical book of portraiture, Body Alchemy, was published in 1996.
Rich Demarest was a member of the Cycle Runners MC and former member of the California Motor Club. He also served as secretary/treasurer of The Forum of San Francisco. Demarest was titled King of Leather II 1990-1991.
November 17, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Rich Demarest was a member of the Cycle Runners MC and former member of the California Motor Club. He also served as secretary/treasurer of The Forum of San Francisco. Demarest was titled King of Leather II 1990-1991.
Michael Felts co-founded the first deaf HIV prevention program in Dallas, Deaf AIDS Action in Washington DC, and International Deaf Leather. He was chairman of the Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf International Conference in 1991 and the National Conference on Deafness and AIDS in 1993.
![[Deaf activist Michael Felts died at his home in the nations capitol on November 16 after a long battle with AIDS. He was 40 years old.
Felts cofounded Deaf AIDS Action, Washington DC. In 1987 he cofounded the nation's first deaf HIV prevention program in Dallas. He was chairman of several major conferences including the Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf International Conference in Dallas 1991 and the National Conference on Deafness and AIDS in Los Angeles 1993. Felts received special recognition from Texas Governor Ann Richards in 1991 for his tireless efforts in HIV/AIDS prevention and services.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:iyfco36opjofallgh4axztsd/bafkreieh6aaws7tzunc53k65qqal7ckkcwopajotpi4x275yympzqmyr6u@jpeg)
November 17, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Michael Felts co-founded the first deaf HIV prevention program in Dallas, Deaf AIDS Action in Washington DC, and International Deaf Leather. He was chairman of the Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf International Conference in 1991 and the National Conference on Deafness and AIDS in 1993.
Carol Leigh was a sex worker, writer, HIV/AIDS and decriminalization activist credited with coining the term "sex work". She was a member of ACT UP and the Citizens For Medical Justice. Carol co-founded the Bay Area Sex Worker Advocacy Network and founded the Sex Worker Film and Arts Festival.
![Carol is a white woman with thick curly hair. She is sitting on the floor struggling with a smiley face that reads be nice to prostitutes. Text: [It was my fate. I was destined to become a sexy monster - thrust onto the battlefield of sexual politics - cast now as a victim, a survivor, and a traitor to my gender.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:iyfco36opjofallgh4axztsd/bafkreieobsexegy5ip3ugzcfjqn6ugg7bqxkwobqaqcnnhmu3pee5t2qny@jpeg)
November 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Carol Leigh was a sex worker, writer, HIV/AIDS and decriminalization activist credited with coining the term "sex work". She was a member of ACT UP and the Citizens For Medical Justice. Carol co-founded the Bay Area Sex Worker Advocacy Network and founded the Sex Worker Film and Arts Festival.
Quote from Amber Hollibaugh in Talking Sex with Deirdre English and Gayle Rubin (reprinted in My Dangerous Desires, 2000). Photo from The Rubberist Vintage Special (ca 1995).
![Close-up of a white person wearing rubber or latex bloomers with one hand propped on their hip. Text: [It was not very long ago that the notion of being sexual and being female was outrageous.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:iyfco36opjofallgh4axztsd/bafkreihouh4w74cuxig65l375xnegyru62itbwwurhjapmxynamkcyy7dq@jpeg)
November 15, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Quote from Amber Hollibaugh in Talking Sex with Deirdre English and Gayle Rubin (reprinted in My Dangerous Desires, 2000). Photo from The Rubberist Vintage Special (ca 1995).
Members of Tribe Detroit MC, the first leather club in Michigan, founded in Detroit in 1971. Photo from the Stallions MC collection at the LA&M. #LeatherMen #LeatherCommunity
November 15, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Members of Tribe Detroit MC, the first leather club in Michigan, founded in Detroit in 1971. Photo from the Stallions MC collection at the LA&M. #LeatherMen #LeatherCommunity
Quote from Consensual Sadomasochism by William A. Henkin and Sybil Holiday (1996). Photo from Lashes Collection No 3 (1986).
![White woman riding on a standing man’s back, using a custom-made backpack metal harness. She is wearing a loose long sleeve shirt, leather pants, and a riding helmet, and holding up a crop. He is white and wearing a horse mask. Text: [Everything you enjoy in a scene that is not essential to your purpose in being there is a want, so after you know what you need you might prioritize your wants as well, from those that are very, very strong to those that are passing fancies.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:iyfco36opjofallgh4axztsd/bafkreighj7hefos7wbmfho4ag7nsi3sicv64zmbkck56umyj65lnbm7pfm@jpeg)
November 14, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Quote from Consensual Sadomasochism by William A. Henkin and Sybil Holiday (1996). Photo from Lashes Collection No 3 (1986).