APRIL 2012 • Vol 2 • Issue 4

In This Issue

Tales From the Librarian

Tales from the Librarian

Tell me more about this

New Acquisitions

That's some stuff right there

Bootblack Corner

Teddy

New Scans

All sorts of things have been happening in the Library during the cold days of winter. We attack the cataloging, re-arrange the storage spaces where the Library lives, work out the logistics of some of the travel schedule, and more!

So we, and the Library, are emerging from "Paperwork and Housekeeping Season" and getting back to traveling. Robi, Pulse and I took a small exhibit to Charm City Fetish Fair the weekend of April 13 and 14. CCFF is a wonderful event with a local flavor.

The host hotel emptied their Communication Center just for the Library. Gone were the computers, fax machines and copiers usually there, only to be replaced by shelves and shelves of books, magazines, posters and art.Though not a large space, the Library staff turned the center into a display that one hotel staffer remarked "…looked like the exhibit had always been there." We even got to line the hallway walls with about a dozen movie posters.There was excitement in the Library from Friday at 5pm, until we left for home on Sunday morning.

Thank you BESS (Baltimore Educational and Social Society; www.bess-md.org)! We had a great time.

Many people don't realize that the books, magazines, art posters, ephemera and such that travels from event to event are limited by what Robi can fit into a van; very rarely is it ever the entire Library holdings. In addition to the main collection, the Library maintains a number of small traveling displays (consistingof about 300 pieces) that can go to small events or events with limited space or special needs. One of the Library traveling displays was taken to Dark Odyssey about six weeks ago. Another display of books, magazines, information boards, and art recently was the focal point of a MasT Edgewater Park monthly meeting. Now we are delighted to announce that the Library has established its first permanent "away" display, which we have affectionately dubbed "Library South". It's housed in the Atlanta, Georgia area.

Library South, so far, has a cross section of books, magazines, posters, programs and artwork that can be requested by local groups (if you are looking for something more specific, let us know at info@leatherlibrary.org). Jez, the Library Genie or Khiki, Media Maven, may be contacted about bringing this "taste of history" to your group or event (info@leatherlibrary.org; put Library South in the subject line).

The first outing for this display was a weekend event entitled "The Call to Serve." I'll let Jez and Khiki tell you all about it.

The Call To Serve - Leather Bootcamp Weekend at Roy's Hideaway

The weekend of March 2-4, the Library’s Genie (aka, my slave jez ;->), my Leather Dad (boy clifford Hooks) and I took a display from the Carter/Johnson Leather Library to the TCTS (The Call To Serve) Leather Bootcamp and Retreat at Roy’s Hideaway Campground in Reidsville, GA, which is about 40 miles from Savanna.

Savannah’s recently re-formed Coastal Empire Sentinels assisted us throughout the weekend, and Roy McLeroy who owns the campground donated a cabin for the display.

The display itself was geared mainly towards the Atlanta community and the Southeast region, and it features pictures from the past 20-30 years. Also displayed were vintage IML posters, International and regional Drummer posters, and the DRUMMER Magazine collection in its entirety!

We had plenty of other grand ‘ol publications that were once a staple of everyday life, like for many of us! We had binders filled with Dungeon Master, Prometheus Bound, Sandmutopian (S&M Utopian) Garden, International Leatherman, etc. It was a heavenly cabin and boy clifford, slave jez and I were thrilled to have that much pervy inspiration all around us- especially since we were all too busy to really do anything ourselves.

The weekend was a success, and CJLL as well as the Atlanta/SE community plan to keep adding to the display, and keep  we plan to keep taking it to as many places as we can!

If you’d like to learn more about any of the CJLL displays or materials, or would like for us to work on a display for your area or event, please contact us at: info@thecalltoserve.net

Newsletter Archives

Tell Me More About This ...

Volume 1 - Issues 1 - 12 (January - December 2011)

Volume 2
Issue 1 (Jan 2012

Issue 2 (Feb 2012)

Issue 3 (March 2012)

One of my great joys is taking people through the Library and showing them the many hidden gems of kink history that are on the shelves. Exploration and discovery often lead to the question, "Can you tell me more about this?"

Usually when I am writing Tell Me More About This the object or objects I discuss have reached the library floor. This month I wanted to tell everyone about four treasures that are still being catalogued.

A few months ago, one of my Leather family members made a life and career change. She was moving to the West Coast. As is usual before a move, possessions of many years were sorted and some were given new homes. Tonya called and told me that there were things she would like me to have, either for my personal use or for the Library. I drove over to her home and there were several large plastic storage containers full of treasures waiting for me.

The containers were filled with years and years of memories from memorabilia to leather clothing. As many of her treasures were lifted from the place where they had been stored we talked, laughed, (OK I also cried) and remembered together. I remembered with fondness her favorite corsets and skirts. I held magazines and newsletters she had been featured in and programs from events we attended together almost 20 years ago. A few days later I smiled and waved as she and another family member backed her car out of the driveway and started the cross-country drive.

Thank you Tonya.

A few weeks after that, a Priority Mail package arrived from Florida. I opened the box and was greeted by a note explaining the contents of the box and that the donor wanted his things to be put on the shelves of Ziggy's Corner.

In that treasure box were belts, gloves, uniform shirts and leather pants. His very generous gifts will be passed on to people who need them.

Thank you Jake.

Recently, following an event the Library attended in Baltimore, a well-known member of the Maryland community gifted the Library with three large containers of Baltimore-area Leather history. Newspapers, programs, posters, pictures, personal memorabilia and even a flag have been added to the Library collection because of his generosity.

Thank you Rik and the members of Hooker and Boys.

The last gift was sent by post, but also via the Internet. Over the last eight weeks or so, one of the finest photo-archivists in the Tri-State Leather community began scanning some of his own vast collection and the paper memorabilia of the late Lenny Waller.

Because of this archivist's work, once or twice a week the Library will be receiving an email with up to 20 attachments. They will include everything from photographs, newsletters, newspaper articles, tickets, and even matchbook covers. We have also received boxes of spectacular photo and art books.

Thank you Efrain.

We should have all these wonderful items catalogued very soon so that they may travel with the Library collection. Come enjoy them in the Library!

Support The Library

You can support us by becoming a member of the Library, linking to our website, shopping at our e-store or making a donation directly to the Library. You can also make a donation directly to the Library Van Fund.

Special Library thanks to:

Dragonslayer Productions and the New Jersey Leather Family for their fundraiser and becoming Library Sentinels

Lady MJ for becoming a Library Guardian

Our patrons at Castle Griffin for founding the "One More Day" fund and making two large donations to that fund

The Bootblack Brigade for their ongoing support of the Library and the Bootblack History Project

Tonya

Jake

Hooker and Boys

Efrain Gonzalez

The guys at the copy center

New Acquisitions

That's some stuff right there ...

Too much time on EBAY!!!

Readers;

This is the problem with Library down time. I should have been spending much more time scanning, (Yes I did scan.) and far less time this month on Ebay. In the last 30 days I have seen more kinky movie memorabilia on Ebay than I have in at least three years. On one hand the "glass is half full" school of thought comes to mind in that big pieces of my memories can now be shared with those who come to the Library. On the other hand … My wallet is now not half full but EMPTY!

I think it was worth it.

For those who remember the 1986 movie 9 ½ Weeks with Kin Basinger and Micky Rourke, these images are a blast from the past. The advertisement is from a British newspaper. I wish the ticket had been mine in 1986. I would have loved to see the pre-edited screening.

The next two pieces acquired are both one page ad sheets from magazines. One is for the 1980 Italian film Masoch. It is a fictional account of the adventures of Wanda Von Sacher Masoch, wife of the man for whom masochism was coined. The other is from Billboard magazine and is an advertisement for the 1969 soundtrack of the movie DeSade.

I liked the ads so much that I bought the posters.

This is the 1980 poster of the movie Crusing staring Al Pacino. This poster is from Yugoslavia.

There have always been things in Jill's and my collection that are hard to put in categories. With the help of Jez, the Library Genie we finally came up with a name for all the "stuff." We are going to just call it "STUFF" and will be telling you about it as we find it.

I found this unusual print on Ebay and couldn't resist it.  The seller had no information at all about the artist.  After a bit of searching I discovered that the piece was painted by a British "tag" artist called Banksy.  He has exhibited in the Untied States and Europe but is best known for his public graffiti style and dark political humor. The Library has a lot of wonderful art.  This piece just seems to fit into the "stuff" category.

Bootblack Corner

Teddy

Here are a few bootblack advertisements. Two are from magazines, and two are advertising cards. It is the stamps that I am trying to figure out. The seller told me that they were from Germany. I have no idea if they were actually used on letters. Do any of the Bootblacks have knowledge of these stamps or others like them?

Greetings and Salutations Everyone!! <stretching> It was a great hibernation for me with the exception of wondering about my application to the Bootblack Brigade. Don't get me wrong, I didn't lose any sleep, but I sure did dream about it. When I woke up from my sleep, I discovered that "The Carter Johnson Leather Library was on the road again. That's right folks we are back for another year of adventures and from what I have heard. We have a very busy schedule ahead of us. I can't wait to go back home to New Mexico and spend time with everyone and tell them of all my adventures with the Library. My first outing so far this year was to Charm City Fetish Fair in Baltimore, MD. It was a nice event with lots of Friendly people, and most of all the Bootblack display is back and bigger. It's amazing the stuff that I found on display, new brushes, tins of polish, pictures and new projects in the making.
I went over to the Bootblack stands with boy robi and was amazed at the new faces and stands. It is nice to see everyone again, having fun and enjoying themselves. While boy robi and I were walking through the vendor area I overheard somebody say something about borrowing me. Please understand everyone that I am Teddy who travels with the Library and I am not a "Mascot." My main goal is to keep "The Spirit of Teddy" from New Mexico's Fetlifer's group alive. The group came up with a way to do this and that's why I am here. (boy Teddy left before his time last year). If anyone wishes to take pictures with me, please feel free to ask boy robi, who has been entrusted with me and see what he can do. With that being said, thank you G-Ma Vi for letting me travel with You everywhere.

As I stated earlier the schedule for this year is going to be a very busy one, so I hope to see a lot of you soon. The next event that I will be at is NDDS-bootcamp, where boy robi will be teaching a Leather Care class. I will probably be in class and then hanging out in the bootblack section of the Library. There is something else that I would like to share and that is, I was pinned twice before winter break. Once I hear back from the Bootblack Brigade regarding my application I will update everyone. Thank You all for Your support, and have a Great Safe year. More adventures to be documented as they come.

Respectfully submitted,
"Teddy"

Newly Scanned

Since last month we have scanned issues from April and May 1966 of the Justice Weekly, March and April 1966 of the Justice Monthly, fourteen issues of Lucifer the LightBearer and a very special book of drawings by artist Chuck Arnett.

Jez, the Library Genie will be getting those up on the website ASAP for readers to search. Enjoy a few scans here and then go and enjoy these issues on our website.