Leather Archives & Museum

White man wearing a leather jacket and cap licks the boot or leather pant leg of someone standing. Text: [The sexual is unpredictable, irrational, sneaky, and far-reaching. Worse still, it is completely resistant to simple legalism or clear philosophical categories. Most sexual imagery does not have one interpretation but a range of multilevel impacts depending on context, personal taste, and hidden symbolism.]

Quote from Puritans, Perverts, and Feminists by Dorothy Allison (in Skin: Talking About Sex, Class and Literature, 1994). Photo from Toy No 60 (1988).

Sheila died in early 1994. Proceeds of IMsL 1994 were donated to Lyon-Martin Women's HIV Program in memory of Courser. Did you know Sheila? Contact the LA&M to help preserve her legacy in the community archive. 🖤

Sheila is a butch woman with bright short blonde hair and partial arms. She is wearing a leather cuff around one upper arm and a leather vest. She is in the center of a group portrait.

Sheila Courser (center) was a board member of the International Ms. Leather contest. Courser competed in the contest in 1990. She produced the Ms. Bear Leather contest and a Ms. Stripper of the Year performance and contest for both amateurs and professionals.

Eddie died on February 27, 2023. Did you know Eddie? Contact the LA&M to help preserve her legacy in the community archive. 🖤

Eddie is a large tall butch woman wearing a leather sash, button up shirt, leather gloves and vest with dark green side panel, and holding a plaque. She is raising her hand, holding the hand of another butch person. Both wearing medallions.

Uncle Eddie (aka Donna Moran) was titled International Ms Bootblack 2003. Eddie was a member of the Los Angeles Boys of Leather and mentor of new bootblacks in Southern California.

The library is typically open to the public Thursday-Sunday. Access on Wednesdays and early mornings by private appointment.

Close up of two women sitting on a couch. One wearing knee high lace up boots with her thighs bound by a leather strap and arms in a straight jacket. Other wearing thigh high latex stockings and latex underwear and top.

The LA&M Teri Rose Memorial Library will be closed this Saturday from 1pm to 5pm.

The museum galleries will be open regular hours for your enjoyment, 11am to 5pm on Saturday.

Ron died on February 25, 1997. Did you know Ron? Contact the LA&M to help preserve his legacy in the community archives. 🖤

Ron is a muscular Black man with a mustache, smiling and raising his arm to applause. He is wearing a leather vest, cap and x chest harness. [Text from Ron's IML speech: Growing up gay isn't easy. Growing up in leather is even harder. We've come a long way, but we have a lot farther to go. Whether in leather or in lace. Whether in white collar or in blue, we need to talk to each other to try to understand each other, to work together, to strengthen the bonds we have already fashioned. If we use our god-given gifts: our intellects to know what is right, our wills to do what is right with compassion and love, we will better ourselves and the world around us. As International Mr. Leather I hope to bring all minorities together in the brotherhood we share.]

Ron Moore was a member of the Denver Gay Men's Chorus and the Metropolitan Community Church. He was titled Mr. Leather Colorado 1984 and was the first Black leatherman to be titled International Mr. Leather in 1984.

Photo of Dick from Metro Weekly. McHugh died of lymphoma on February 25, 2001. Did you know Dick? Share photos and stories about him with the LA&M to help preserve his memory in the community archive. 🖤

Richard is a white man in his 60s with a short beard and strong brow. He is wearing a button up shirt, leather vest, watch, and jeans. He is sitting in a chair posing for a metro weekly cover.

Richard McHugh was the "Mr. Fix-It" and eventual owner of the DC Eagle. McHugh hosted benefits at the bar for charitable organizations including Brother Help Thyself and Food for Friends. He was involved in the gay rodeo and supported the Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association.

Jason, photographed here by Rich Stadtmiller, died on February 25, 2013, the day after his 38th birthday. Contact the LA&M to help preserve his memory in the community archives. 🖤

Jason is white and has short cropped auburn hair and beard and a nose ring. He is wearing a red latex shirt and a black latex bodysuit and an international rubber sash and a chain with a lock around his neck.

Jason Lawrence Lynch was a founding member of New England Rubber Men and involved with the Rubber Men of San Francisco. He was titled Mr. International Rubber 2013.

Sunday, Mar. 1st: Flogging 201 - Florentine Double Your Fun, Kink Klass w/ Master Leather Redux and Raea, 3 - 4:30pm. The focus of this class will be on how to do the Florentine technique or using two floggers at the same time. Bring your floggers and be ready to learn how to Florentine together!

Saturday, Feb. 28th: Second City Bootblacks Presents A Bootblack "Key" Party, 11am - 1pm. This is a chance for bootblacks of all skill levels to get in the fun of “swapping” our projects and our skills. All of this while giving our Post-Valentine's Day leather the love it needs!

Friday, Feb. 27th: Gear Night at The Museum, 6 - 9pm. Join us to socialize with other kinksters, check out the latest exhibits, or just hang out and color in your sexiest stuff. Bootblack Tito Joey is on duty to keep your gear looking shiny and clean!

We have a lots of great events happening this week! Join us for one or all of them!

Thursday, Feb. 26th: Knotty by Nature Bondage Class w/ The Persian Prince, 7 - 8:30pm. All experience levels are welcome!

Check out these events on our website!
leatherarchives.libcal.com/calendar/eve...

Roger died on February 17, 2003. Do you have any photos of Roger? Contact the LA&M to help preserve his memory in the community archive. 🖤

[Roger Luttrell was a member of the Alameda County Leather Corps. He was titled Mr. Alameda County Leather 1996, served as president and was named ACLC's member of the year in 1999. Luttrell was remembered as a "creative force and talent." He designed costumes for the SF Gay Men's Chorus, distributed baskets for the Godfather Fund at Highland Hospital, and built sets for ACLC events.]

Roger Luttrell was a member of the Alameda County Leather Corps. He was titled Mr. Alameda County Leather 1996, served as president, and was named ACLC's Member of the Year in 1999.

Sowers died on February 21, 2001. Did you know Sowers? Contact the LA&M to help preserve his legacy. 🖤

Al is white and thin. He had angular tribal style tails on his arms and chest and gauged earrings and a staff through his nose.

Al D. Sowers was body modification artist and educator. He co-founded the Association of Professional Piercers and was a founding member of Seattle Men in Leather. Sowers served on the boards of Generic Leather Productions and Washington State Mr. Leather.

Luca died in 2023. Did you know Luca? Write down your memories of her and send them to the LA&M with any photos to help preserve her memory in the community archive. 🖤

Luca is a fat white woman wearing a gauzy indigo dress and a leather corset. She has a nose piercing and long brown hair. She is walking across stage.

Luca GasolineQueen was titled Ms. Leather Toronto 2015 and competed at International Ms. Leather 2015. Luca helped organize a Women’s and Trans Munch, raised funds for the Rainbow Railroad, and participated in the WROAR charity ride.

Three men, the winner center is a black man wearing a leather vest, chest harness and holding a title patch and trophy. The runner up is a taller black man wearing a leather collar with leash and a chest harness and chaps. The third man is white and wearing a leather vest and cap.

International Mr. Deaf Leather 1997, Patrick Richardson, with runners-up Paul O'Rourke and William "Barn "Coleman. Photo by Paul Putnam from the Leather Journal No 95 (Dec 1997). #LeatherMen

Glowski died in February 2025. Did you know Thom? Contact the LA&M to help preserve his memory in the community archive. 🖤

Thom is white and has a broad head, white beard and gray hair. He has blue eyes and is wearing a black leatherworks t-shirt.

Thom Glowski was a founding member of Rudis Leather Society and founder of LDD Leatherworks.

Bald Black person covering their face with a leather jacket and string of pearls. Headlines: title holders of color, Don pierces everything, los lesborados, ebony in leather, cutting edge pictorial, clips and clamps, submissions to the Mistress, home coming, art by raven.

The premiere issue of Black Leather In Color, the first SM/Leather magazine created by and for people of color. BLIC was founded by a collective led by Michele Buchanan, S. Guy Giumento, Lidell Jackson and Darrell Perry in 1994. BLIC was revived by Ms D Dom in 2024 @blicmagazine.bsky.social

Woah 😳 Sold Out!

Y’all bought up all the Piss bottles in record time! We will let everyone know when we get more in stock soon!

Wanda was murdered on February 19, 1980 in Kansas City. Help us preserve Wanda's legacy be emailing photos, memories, or reflections on Wanda to the LA&M. 🖤

Wanda is white and wearing a lace Victorian dress with ruffles around the shoulders, a silk head and neck wrap and a curled wig.

Wanda Lust was a drag queen and sexual health activist. Wanda hosted events at The Gold Coast and Man's Country and toured with the Chicago Gay Health Project's VD Van, providing late-night, curbside testing outside of gay bars and bath houses.