The Journeyman II Academy was held from December 1995 to September 1997 in San Francisco, CA. Over seventy persons interviewed for the academy, thirty-five started the program and eight completed the program. The Journeyman II Academy was followed by the Journeyman III Academy in Salt Lake City, UT in 1998. The goals of The Academy were to teach the basic tools and skills needed for each cadet (student) to become the best, most emotionally empowered leatherperson they could be, to learn the skills as if every person they would play with in the future would be HIV positive, and the have the ability to handle any SM partner as if they were a member of the walking wounded.. The Academy consisted of a series of weekend classes instructed by prominent practitioners of sadomasochism and other alternative sexual practices. The Academy was founded and administered by GrandMaster Keith Edwards E (Master KEE).
Justin Tanis is a female to male transsexual, who attended the Journeyman II Academy as Maggie Tanis. Justin was born on September 10, 1965 in New Haven Connecticut. He is a pastor and has worked for the Metropolitan Community Church since 1990. Justin lived in San Francisco from 1994 to 1996, working for the MCC there. He moved to Los Angeles during the middle of the JIIA for a job offer, and commuted back and forth to attend the JIIA in San Francisco. Justin has also worked for MCC Boston, Ke Anuenue O Ke Aloha MCC in Honolulu and the denominational headquarters in Los Angeles.
The collection includes approximately ½ linear feet (1 archival box) of records and one box of artifacts. The records are notes and materials collected during the JIIA. Papers in the collection date from December 1995 to September 1997. The collection includes administrative material from The Academy, handouts given to cadets, notes taken by Justin Tanis and personal reflections about The Academy and the subjects taught. The collection also includes artifacts related to The Academy
"The Journeyman II Academy" by Liz Highleyman. Cuir Underground Issue 4.2, Summer 1998.
This collection was donated to the institution in a two installments. A three ring binder was donated, followed by a box with the leather belt and the trophy. Papers and materials were removed from the three ring binder by the processor. In most cases, papers following a divider were placed in their own folder and the folder was named with the description written on the binder divider. In cases where multiple divider sections were placed in a folder, the dividers were retained in the folder.
This series includes administrative material from The Academy. Included are schedules, rosters and form templates. The papers are maintained in the order arranged by Justin Tanis in the first section of a three ring binder. Also included are papers, written by Justin Tanis, about LeatherSex by Joseph W. Bean and Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goldman. Folder 1 contains a response paper, written by Justin Tanis, to V.M. Johnson's article "BLIC 3" Of particular interest are Justin Tanis's thoughts on initiation into the JIIA.
This series includes handouts and notes taken by Justin Tanis related to various subjects taught in JIIA. The papers are maintained in the order arranged by Justin Tanis. The instructors for these classes include Master KEE, Janet Childs, Sybil Holiday, Dr. William Henkin, Joseph W. Bean, Joe Tolson, Serena Lumiere, Guy Baldwin, Dr. Robert Lawrence, Don Bersticker RN, Dr. Gayle Rubin, Ann Soucy-West, Race Bannon, Kasandra Kane, Lou Duff, and Wolf. Most subjects include class handouts and notes by Justin Tanis. Some subjects also include papers written by Justin Tanis. Folder 14, labeled "Examinations" does not contain examinations, but rather a signed statement by Justin Tanis.
This series includes papers that were not bound in the three ring binder, but are associated with the JIIA. These papers have been artificially arranged by the processor, according to format and subject matter. The series includes papers written by Justin Tanis, notes copied from other cadets, handouts, and materials related to the graduation and completion of the JIIA. The photographs are 3" x 5". They were not identified or described by Justin Tanis. The processor has identified Justin Tanis in two of the photos, by marking their backs.
This series contains the following artifacts : A leather belt made by the student during the class, a trophy received at graduation, a "Celebrate Diversity" pin, a California "I'M THE BOSS" artificial license plate, a red handkerchief signed by Carol Queen and Dr. Lawrence and a leather collar with a hanging pendant