Each year CLC designates a specific organization as the
recipient of funds raised throughout the year. Our selected
charity for 2006 is:
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."
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.
