Members of ONYX and the New York Panthers at Folsom Street East 2005, photographed by Efrain J. Gonzalez. From the Efrain J. Gonzalez collection at the LA&M. #LeatherMen #LeatherClubs

Leonard Dworkin was a member of the Gay Male S/M Activists, the National Leather Association, and The Eulenspiegel Society. He published a newsletter and several community mailing lists. Dworkin died in New York City on June 5, 1998. He was survived by his wife Michele Buchanan. 🖤

Buzzy Malinowski was a member of the ShipMates of Baltimore. He was titled Mr. Baltimore Eagle 2000 and competed at Mr. Maryland Leather and International Mr. Leather. Malinowski died on August 2, 2004. 🖤

Quote from On Becoming a Leatherwoman by Michele A. Buchanan. Photo by Efrain J. Gonzalez from Buchanan's collection at the LA&M. #LeatherWomen

Ian Gurnhill was an active member of the Chicago Hellfire Club, a member of Brighton Gay Men's Chorus, and a former trustee of Spanner. Ian died on August 3, 2014. 🖤

Steve Masters (Mike Miksche) was a commercial artist and designer active in the early gay leather/SM community of New York. Masters participated in films made by Alfred Kinsey. He served in World War II as a pilot. Miksche died on August 4, 1964. 🖤

Fakir Musafar was an influential body modification practitioner, educator, and artist. Musafar published Body Play magazine and led training workshops in California. Fakir Musafar died on August 1, 2018. He was survived by his wife Cléo Dubois. 🖤

Jamie Esposito was active in the bear and leather communities. He was titled Mr. Leather New Orleans 1992 and was a finalist at International Mr. Leather. Esposito received the Pantheon of Leather South Central Regional Award.

Zach Long volunteered with the San Francisco Symphony and Opera, was a ruling elder of the Old First Presbyterian Church. He served on the board of directors for the AIDS Emergency Fund and the Lark Street Youth Center. Long was titled SF Leather Daddy V. He volunteered at many leather events.

Dion Daly-Susino co-produced the Mr. & Ms. New Jersey Leather contests and other LGBT and leather events and fundraisers. He and his husband Sal raised over $100,000 for charity through their events and received Pride Network’s Harvey Milk Community Advocacy Award. Dion died on July 31, 2022. 🖤

Fred (right, with Cléo DuBois) was the co-owner of The Catacombs, a famous private club located in San Francisco until it closed due to the AIDS pandemic in 1984. Fred died in the Summer of 1989. 🖤

Larry Townsend was a writer, best known as the author of The Leatherman's Handbook (1972), one of the first books about the leather community. Townsend was a former president of the Homophile Effort for Legal Protection in Los Angeles. Townsend died on July 29, 2008. 🖤

Brad Grauman was the owner of Club Z. Grauman was associated with the Seattle leather community since the 1980s. He purchased the Zodiac Social Club from James Brown in the late 1980s and renamed it Club Z. Grauman died in July 1995. 🖤

Lots of opportunity to get together as a kink community this week here in Chicago! Check out what’s happening this week and see you later today at our Gear Happy Hour at Chicago Eagle! 💙🖤 Leatherarchives.libcal.com

Photo and description of The Arena from A Drummer Guide To Where The Action Is: Folsom South of Market (early 80s). #LeatherBars

Kinky Fun with LA&M continues! Add us to your calendar and come with us! Details at leatherarchives.org

Michael Horowitz was a board member of the Gay Male S/M Activists, co-producer of Leather Pride Night, co-organizer for the Get Linked Project, and member of other clubs.

Jon Letke aka Nizzi Greatpup was an active member of the Ottawa and Toronto leather communities. He was titled Mr. Leather Ottawa 2014 and was a finalist at International Mr. Leather. Photo from Rich Stadtmiller's collection at the LA&M. Jon died on July 24, 2014. 🖤

Mistress Hilda Pierce was a professional dominant in New York. Pierce moved from France to the United States in the 1960s.

Gary Floyd was a member of Centaur MC and worked at The Leather Rack in Washington DC. He was involved with Scarlet's Bake Sale, an annual fundraiser for LGBT charity. Photo of Gary from Vern Stewart's collection. Gary died on July 23, 2013. 🖤

David Weinbaum was a lawyer, board member of the Gay Male S/M Activists, and chairman of Leather Pride Night. Weinbaum was also an antique tool collector and member of related hobbyist associations.

Ed Negron (center) was a photographer, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor, employee of Leather64TEN, and activist. Negron co-founded the Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago.

Join us today at the @chicagoeagle.bsky.social

Miss Fawna served on the board of directors for the Threshold Society and was the founder and and leader of Domme Scouts Troop 96. Fawna died suddenly on July 22, 2014. 🖤

Tony Tavarossi was a painter and manager of the first leather bar in San Francisco, The Why Not, opened at 518 Ellis Street in 1960. Tavarossi was among the earliest victims of the AIDS epidemic in the United States, dying of pneumocystis on July 12, 1981. 🖤

Tony DeBlase was an author, educator, publisher, and community leader, described as "perhaps the most transformational figure in the history of the leather community" by the Leather Hall of Fame. DeBlase designed the Leather Pride Flag in 1989 and cofounded the LA&M. DeBlase died on July 21, 2000. 🖤

Our next Kink Klass is THIS SATURDAY! July 25th at 2pm, Gerber/Hart Library & Archives Register for in-person or online attendance. Space is limited in person, so make sure to register in advanced! - - -

This Wednesday is another Gear Happy Hour from 4 - 7pm at the Chicago Eagle! Then stay for our second Exploring Kink class, Impact Play 101 with Master Leather Redux and Raea! 7 - 8:30pm See you there!

Sister Mysteria was a professional dominant and one of the 1st female members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. She raised funds for HIV/AIDS with Sister Dana at the 1st Up Your Alley Fair and competed at the 1st International Ms. Leather contest. Sister Mysteria died on July 16, 2011. 🖤

Warren W. West was an analytic chemist and biochemist. He was collared by Joseph Bean in 1992. West died on July 17, 1994 of AIDS. 🖤