Leather United-Chicago, also referred to as LUC or LU-C, was founded in 1989 as an educational, social and fundraising organization within the Midwest and Chicagoland Leather / SM / Fetish community. Membership was open to any individual 21 years of age or older who understood and supported the mission of the organization. LU-C was a pansexual organization, meaning it was open to all persons regardless of sexual orientation. The organization was governed by a constitution and by-laws. The organization was administrated by an executive board. The dissolution date of the organization is not known, although the records indicate that the organization was still active as late as 2000.
In addition to organizational and administrative meetings, the organization sponsored regular club nights at leather bars around Chicago and the Midwest. In 1995 and 1996, LU-C produced a fundraising and social event called "Freeze and Sleeze" in Indianapolis, IN. The event was originally produced by Ed Tobin, Mr. Indiana Leather 1992 and David Hawn or Indianapolis, IN. From 1994 to 1996, LU-C sponsored a series of educational workshops entitled Leather University of Chicago. The organization was regularly involved with and supported the International Mr. Leather weekend in Chicago and Gay and Lesbian pride parades in Chicago, Milwaukee and Indianapolis. The organization's home bar was the AA Meat Market from 1990 to 1993, the Chicago Eagle from 1993 to 1999 and the Cellblock - Chicago from 1999 through the dissolution of the organization.
LU-C was an organizational member of the Chicago Council of Clubs from December of 1991 through at least 1997 (the dissolution date of the Council is unknown). LU-C published a newsletter from March of 1990 through 1999. In 1998, the title of the newsletter was changed from "The Leather United-Chicago Newsletter" to "Nine-Tails".
The collection contains records related to Leather United-Chicago, largely from 1990 to 1997. Included are organizational documents including the by-laws and constitution, the minutes of the organization, newsletters for the organization, correspondence, press and publicity materials, supporting documentation for Freeze and Sleeze and Leather University Chicago events, a printout of the organization's website from November 1997, administrative form templates, and a limited number of membership rosters. Materials from the 2000 Illinois Leather Summit sponsored by the Suttle Leather Cares foundation are also included in the collection.
The following items were moved from the Leather United-Chicago collection to other collections at the Leather Archives : Leather United-Chicago banner with colors and 5 trophies presented to the organization.