Women’s Leather History Project
The Leather Archives & Museum (LA&M) launched a new project on January 1, 2010 to collect, preserve and exhibit women’s leather history. After just over a month of spreading the word, the Women’s Leather History Project (WHLP) is off to a great start. Artifacts and collections from women have already started making their way to the vaults and exhibits of the LA&M including:
- Personal papers from Vi Johnson
- Books and fetish wear from Kat Sunlove
- Memorabilia from Jan Lyon
We need your help!
In addition to your financial support of the project, here’s what you can send to the LA&M to be a part:
- Papers
- Video recorded interviews
- Personal histories-oral, film, and written
- Art and visual resources
- Media-books, magazines, films, and digital media
- Artifacts - organizational and personal
Spearheading the WLHP for LA&M will be Sarah Humble and Leigha Fleming. Says Humble, “I am so excited to be involved in leading this project. I have my video recording equipment ready. It’s so important that as women we take the lead in collecting and preserving our own histories!”
Says Fleming, “We will be present at events, scheduling interviews and soliciting donations to make this project a reality. Vi Johnson & Jill Carter have become our first individual donors and SouthEast Leatherfest has become our first event donor. ”
Sarah and Leigha have already started traveling with the project and collecting oral and video histories. They appeared at Southwest Leather Conference January 22nd - 24th in Phoenix, AZ.
The WLHP will be at SouthPlains Leatherfest in Dallas, TX from February 26th - 28th and will be interviewing and collecting history there. Please email women@leatherarchives.org if you’d like to speak to Leigha or Sarah about the project while they’re in Dallas!
Donations can be made via the LA&M website or by mailing a check/money order to:
Leather Archives & Museum
6418 N. Greenview Avenue
Chicago, IL 60626
773.761.9200
Please mark your contributions “women” or “WLHP.” If you have any questions, please email women@leatherarchives.org
You can visit the Women’s Leather History Project on the LA&M website for information on donating your materials and upcoming oral history opportunities.
