Leather Archives and Museum
About Leather Archives and Museum
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." Renslow and DeBlase founded the museum to combat the loss and suppression of leather and fetish community history during the AIDS crisis.
The LA&M is a leading conservator of queer erotic art. Its permanent collection features some of the most iconic LGBTQ artists of the twentieth century, including most artwork by Bill Schmeling and many works by Dom Orejudos.
The museum is open to patrons 18 years of age and over. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and a member of the Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums (ROAM). Research assistance is available upon request.
The museum temporarily closed May 24, 2026 for a year-long renovation project.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Founded
- 1991
Photos of Leather Archives and Museum
01ChicagoSkvader · CC BY-SA 4.0
02Leather Archives & Museum reading roomSkvader · CC BY-SA 4.0
03Leather Archives & Museum - InteriorOiYoiYoink · CC0
04Mineshaft Dress CodeOiYoiYoink · CC BY-SA 4.0
05Etienne AuditoriumOiYoiYoink · CC0
06San Francisco CatacombsOiYoiYoink · CC0
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Nearby museums
Make a day of it. 4 more museums are within 3.6 miles of Leather Archives and Museum; the closest, Indo-American Heritage Museum, is about 1.6 miles away.
