2009 Speech given by Rick Storer

Good Evening. I’d like to say thank you to Philadelphia LPN for selecting the LA&M and our history as a beneficiary of this event. I’d also like to thank the volunteers and staff that are working so hard to make this happen, but mostly I’d like to thank you for your generous support of our history through your bids and donations.

The Leather Archives is currently focused on making our history accessible. If you can’t access it, we never should have saved it in the first place. One way we are doing that is through digitization. We are putting digitial copies of old films, photos and archival documents on our website, on YouTube, Facebook, and other places on the web. Check it out!
Another way we’re making your history accessible is through the Road Show. We bring artifacts out of Chicago and into your community. For example, we brought a very special artifact with us this evening from this community. Cowboi Jen is holding a vest from Ms. New Jersey Leather, Caren Cunningham. This vest, and other artifacts from your community, are preserved and accessible at the Leather Archives & Museum thanks to your generous support tonight.

Thank you, and goodnight.