CHICAGO — With the assistance of Chicago 44th Ward Alderman Thomas M. Tunney, the Chicago City Council recently passed a resolution to acknowledge the Leather Archives & Museum (LA&M) and to recognize September 18th as Leather Archives & Museum Day in Chicago. Although the LA&M is a national charity, support from Alderman Tunney and the Chicago City Council has been instrumental in establishing a physical headquarters. The official resolution, adopted September 14th, 2016, reads as follows and is on display at the LA&M:
WHEREAS, the Leather Archives and Museum is celebrating its twenty fifth anniversary on Saturday, September 18, 2016; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this milestone by Alderman Thomas M. Tunney; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Chuck Renslow, a highly respected lifelong citizen of Chicago, called a meeting of his friends in 1991, to explore the ways and means available to preserve the suppressed and disappearing history of America’s Leather Communities, regardless of sexual orientation or geographical location, and
WHEREAS, from that meeting, the Leather Archives & Museum was established as the first formally organized archival collection of artifacts, ephemera, and other materials relating specifically to the history and subculture of the leather community; and,
WHEREAS, as a library, museum and archive, the collection contains published books, magazines, scholarly publications, films and electronic resources, original erotic art and artifacts from alternative sex organizations and individuals; and,
WHEREAS, the archival collection contains unpublished papers and records from notable activists, artists, businesses and organizations related to the subject matter; and,
WHEREAS, in addition to activities in Chicago, the Leather Archives & Museum serves the leather world by preserving material from all leather communities, sending “traveling” exhibits around the country, and providing email and telephone research assistance; and,
WHEREAS, this vital institution has been maintained and developed over the past 25 years and has become a world-renowned institution which brings honor to the City in countless ways, including by way of the unofficial motto of the Leather Archives & Museum, known across leather communities worldwide: “Located in Chicago and Serving the World;” now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that we the Mayor and Members of the Chicago City Council, assembled the 14th Day of September, 2016, do hereby acknowledge the fine work that the Leather Archives & Museum does and express our gratitude to all contributors to the success of this institution by declaring that the 18th day of September 2016 is and shall be known as Leather Archives & Museum Day in Chicago; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Leather Archives & Museum.
CITY COUNCIL OF CHICAGO
via press release