Guide to the Henri Leleu Papers
Heather Cummins
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society
989 Market Street, Lower Level
San Francisco, California 94103
Phone: (415) 777-5455
Email: reference@glbthistory.org
URL: http://www.glbthistory.org/
© 2008, 2024
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Henri Leleu Papers
Collection number: 1997-13
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society
San Francisco, California
- Date Completed:
- 1997
- Encoded by:
- Heather Cummins
© 2008, 2024 The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Finding aid of the Henri Leleu Papers 1930-1980
Dates: 1930-1980
Collection number: 1997-13
Creator:
Leleu, Henri
Collection Size:
13 boxes
Repository:
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society
San Francisco, California 94105
Abstract: This collection comprises materials, covering half a century beginning in the early 1930's through the early 1980's, of Henri
Leleu's life.
The scope of the materials include personal papers, documents related to gay cultural events,
documents related to Leleu's political activities, particularly with the Tavern Guild of San Francisco, work documents,
ephemera collected from Leleu's travels, photographs, slides, and negatives.
The bulk of this collection consists of photographic materials.
Physical location: Stored at the Archives of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society in San Francisco, California
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
Collection open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright to unpublished manuscript materials has been transferred to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Henri Leleu Papers (1997-13), The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society.
Acquisition Information
Donated to the GLBT Historical Society in 1997 by Dale Harned.
Biography / Administrative History
Born July 31, 1907 and passed away on February 27, 1996, Henri Leleu led a long, eventful life. Though Leleu has left us
very little documentation on his childhood years, we do know that as a young man, he lived and worked in Beverly Hills, California,
as a publicity man and later secretary-manager for the Beverly Hills Junior Chamber of Commerce. At 33, his life changed
profoundly as he was recruited into the Navy to serve in the Pacific Rim arena for the duration of World War II. For the
next several years, he sent letters home either mildly complaining about the working conditions or sharing his delight and
fascination with the military. At times, he had rather cushy jobs during the war, writing news releases for the Navy or doing
administrative work. In any event, he must have enjoyed his life there, writing a two-page feature of his military experience
for a local hometown paper and meticulously saving documents and photographs from this period of his life.
After the war, Leleu stayed on in Asia. He became an insatiable traveler, exploring the Philippines, China, and India. Later,
he traveled to Europe and started an export business with the help of his hometown connections in the U.S. He worked in Copenhagen,
Denmark for at least a year or two, collecting antiques which he would later sell to a dealer in Texas. During this time,
he continued traveling throughout Europe and acquired a talent for business, a skill which would serve him well in the various
political organizations he later became involved in.
Sometime during the early 1960's Leleu arrived in San Francisco. He soon became heavily involved in the leather scene and
in various gay political organizations. He attended motorcycle runs--weekend events sponsored by leather bars in which men
would ride out into the country for a few days of drinking, camping, food and sex. Leleu was an avid photographer, capturing
much of these events. The work that Leleu has left us is stunning, capturing images of a nascent leather scene that has long
since come and gone. Before kink went mainstream, and when in fact there was only one gay male leather bar in San Francisco,
Leleu was there with his camera, capturing the young twenty- or thirty-year-old crowd in their cruising and partying. In
the early 1960's, he also made the shrewd decision of investing in the Tool Box, a tavern which quickly became a central place
for the leather scene. A few years later, he also served as treasurer for the Tavern Guild, an organization of gay bars which
attempted to address, among other business concerns, the prevalent problem of police harassment in and around the bars.
While Leleu clearly devoted time to various gay organizations, as documents from this collection suggest, what remains most
striking in this collection are his slides and photographs. By the late 1960's he documented demonstrations, the queer Tricycle
races of the early 70's, and many drag events in the bars. Leleu has left us a collection that is not only professional,
in its technical expertise, but vivid and candid, as young leather men, drag queens, politicians, . . . whomever, relax, drink,
and smile into his camera. For the leather community, his work is an invaluable step towards preserving a period that came
and went some three decades ago.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection has a remarkable range of materials, covering half a century beginning in the 1930's and extending into the
early 1980's. The materials are organized in a very rough chronological order. Photographs from the 1930's-1950's are mostly
in Box 11 while the extensive collection of photographs, negatives, and slides from the 1960's-70's are in Boxes 4-10. The
earlier photographs include a small collection of family pictures and a rather extensive collection of military photographs
from the 1940's and travel pictures from the 1950's. Prints from the 1960's onwards are of various gay events, parades and
cultural events centering in or around San Francisco. The images from this later period are black and white prints of various
sizes, though other formats include color prints and video footage of events (converted from the original film which can also
be found in this collection).
The Leleu collection also contains a large number of slides and negatives, both in color and black and white, and formatted
in various sizes. You will find a significant degree of overlap between the collection of prints and the collection of slides
and negatives. For the most part, the slides and negatives are better organized and more clearly labeled than the prints.
Aside from the photography and video materials, this collection also includes materials such as correspondence (spanning four
decades), postcards, ephemera from gay events, etc.
Box 1 holds 3 series. The first, entitled Personal Papers, contains documents on Leleu's home, his investments, and various
bills. One file holds various certificates of appreciation, a newspaper article, and identification documents. Some of the
most interesting documents of this series are his personal letters which are in various correspondence files. These letters
date back to World War II and provide an idea of how Leleu interacted with his family. The second series, Cultural Groups
and Events, mostly contains documents relating to gay cultural events. The third series, Gay Organizing, has a number of
files pertaining to Leleu's political activities. Files A-K of this series are in Box 1.
Box 2 contains files L-Z of the Gay Organizing. It seems that Leleu was mostly involved with the Tavern Guild, a volunteer
organization made up of gay bars and a group which dealt with the problems of operating a gay owned and supported business.
Leleu worked for this organization for many years, at times serving as treasurer. A number of files relating to fundraising
and finances can be found here on the Tavern Guild. Of particular interest may be the minutes for the meetings that Leleu
saved over a number of years. From the Gay Organizing, it is also clear that he participated in the Koalas, a motorcycle
club, and more political organizations such as SIR, The Society for Individual Rights. Many kinds of financial records can
be found in this series.
Box 2 also has the Work Documents series, which contains mostly financial documents, with some correspondence as well on Leleu's
professional life. He worked mostly as a salesman for photography supplies. Various documents on his career can be found
here. Box 2 also has the beginnings of the Memorabilia and Travel Items series, which is an assortment of letters, travel
documents, receipts, menus, and other odd documents from his many travels to Asia and Europe.
Box 3 holds the rest of the Memorabilia and Travel Items series. It also houses 2 small boxes of ephemera, mostly buttons
from gay organizations or events.
Box 4 holds the beginnings of the Photographs series. The collection of photographs here are divided into the following categories:
people, organizations (mostly bars), events, and other subject headings. All of these folders are arranged chronologically.
The organization of these prints is by no means complete. Please note that some of the most interesting files are the most
generally named. The files entitled Drag Events, Motorcycle Runs and People are worth looking into, providing a rough sketch
of the kinds of events Leleu typically participated in. Files A-L are in Box 4.
Box 5 holds Files L-P of the Photographs series. Box 6 holds Files P - T.
Box 7 contains the rest of the Photographs series and the entire Slides series. This next series, the Slides series plus
the Negatives series are organized in a similar fashion as the Photographs series. Please note that the Slides and Negatives
series may be a more valuable resource than the collection of photographic prints. We have more information about the images
in these two series. In these groupings, you will find some files with the names of specific leather bars, leather bar events,
or general gay cultural events, again arranged alphabetically. One can probably gain more information on the photographic
prints by cross referencing them with the slides and negatives.
Box 8 holds the Negatives series up until File R.
Box 9 holds the rest of the negatives.
Box 10 contains duplicate prints of photographs plus the Color Slides on Glass series. This series is arranged similar to
the previous slides series. Please be careful handling the Color Slides on Glass series.
Box 11 contains early family pictures, military photos from the 1940's, travel photos from the 50's, a large collection of
postcards from (probably) around the 1950's, and a few miscellaneous photos. This box is organized very roughly according
to period.
Box 12 contains oversized prints. some of the early leather period of the 60's and some of taverns and other gay events from
the 60's and 70's. Various legal sized documents are in this box as well.
Also Box A houses Various MSS Collections Oversized Materials.
Arrangement
This collection is organized in 6 series:
- Series 1. Personal Papers
- Series 2. Gay Cultural Events
- Series 3. Gay Organizing
- Series 4. Documents related to work
- Series 5. Memorabilia and Travel items
- Series 6. Photographs
- Series 7. Films
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Gay men
Photography
Leather
Nightlife
Other Finding Aids
Related GLBTHS Collections Tavern Guild of San Francisco Records, 1961-1993
Box 1
Personal Papers
1941-1987
Box/ Folder 1/1
Atlas Savings and Loan Stock
Box/ Folder 1/3
Correspondence
circa 1941
Box/ Folder 1/4
Correspondence (family)
circa 1957
Box/ Folder 1/5
Correspondence (various kinds)
circa 1971-1987
Box/ Folder 1/7
Personal and Home Records
Box 1
Gay Cultural Events
1967-1980
Box/Folder 1/9
Miscellaneous Gay Documents
1970-1980
Box/Folder 1/10
Beaux Arts Ball
1969-1970
Box/Folder 1/11
Empress of San Francisco
1974
Box/Folder 1/12
Hanging of Sweet Lips (4th, 6th, 7th)
1974-1977
Box/Folder 1/13
Harbin Springs Club
1967-1968
Box/Folder 1/16
Parade Application
ca. 1975
Box/Folder 1/17
Concerned Republicans for Individual Rights (CRIR)
1980-1982
Box/Folder 1/18
Fundraising Records (Tavern Guild ?)
1972
Box/Folder 1/19
Fundraising Records (Tavern Guild ?)
1973
Box/Folder 1/20
Fundraising Records (Tavern Guild?)
1976
Box/Folder 1/21
Fundraising Records (various events)
1969-1975
Box/Folder 1/23
Inter-Club Fund, records (sparse)
1973-1978
Box/Folder 1/24
Koalas, financial records (scattered)
1967-1987
Box/Folder 1/25
Koalas, records
1974-1977
Box/Folder 2/2
Society for Individual Rights (SIR)
Box/Folder 2/3
South of Market Business Association (SOMBA), records
1975-1977
Box/Folder 2/4
Tavern Guild, financial records
Box/Folder 2/5
Tavern Guild, membership lists
Box/Folder 2/6
Tavern Guild, minutes, newsletters, etc.
Box 2
Documents Related to Work
circa 1957-1980
Box/Folder 2/7
Export Business
circa 1957
Box/Folder 2/9
Leleu and Associates, Invoice Books
1971-1973
Box/Folder 2/10
Leleu and Associates, Invoice Books
1974-1980
Box/Folder 2/11
International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation
Box/Folder 2/12
Luminos Photo Corporation, financial records
1965
Box/Folder 2/13
Luminos Photo Corporation, documents and other photo sales work
Box/Folder 2/14
Vector (SIR) ad sales - invoice book
1967
Box 2, 3
Memorabilia and Travel Items
1937-circa 1969
Box/Folder 3/1
Press summaries written by Leleu for U.S. Navy
circa 1940-1949
Box/Folder 3/2
Travel documents
circa 1940-1949
Box/Folder 3/4
Personal notes
circa 1950-1969
Box/Folder 3/5
Italian menus from cruise ship
1955
Box 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12
Photographs
circa 1930-1979
1970-1979
Box/Folder 4/1
Alexander Hamilton Post, American Legion, 5x7 color prints
Box/Folder 4/3
Billboards, various prints
Box/Folder 4/4
Blood Drive, large black and white prints
Box/Folder 4/5
Buildings, large black and white prints
Box/Folder 4/6
CRIR/Duke Armstrong, various black and white prints
Box/Folder 4/7
Castro Street Fair, large black and white prints
Box/Folder 4/8
Christmas Party, large black and white prints
Box/Folder 4/9
Charlotte Coleman, various prints
Box/Folder 4/10
Conductor, large black and white prints
Box/Folder 4/11
Cowboys, large black and white prints
Box/Folder 4/12
Cramer, Bob, various black and white prints
Box/Folder 4/13
Demonstrations, various black and white prints
Box/Folder 4/14
Detour (888 McClaister), bar, various black and white prints
Box/Folder 4/15
Drag Events, various prints
Box/Folder 4/16
Drag Events, various black and white prints
Box/Folder 4/17
Finocchio's, performance, various black and white prints
Box/Folder 4/18
Gay Day Celebration, Golden Gate Park, large black and white prints
Box/Folder 4/19
Gay Men's Chorus or Henri and some guys, 5x7 color prints
Box/Folder 4/20
Girls and Boys Picnic, 4x6 color prints
Box/Folder 4/21
Halloween, large black and white prints
Box/Folder 4/22
Harbin Hot Springs, large black and white prints
Box/Folder 4/23
Leleu, miscellaneous, various black and white prints
circa 1940-1949
Box/Folder 4/24
Leleu, scrap book
circa 1950-1959
Box/Folder 4/25
Leleu-Luminos and miscellaneous photographs, various prints
Box/Folder 4/26
Leleu, various ages, various prints
Box/Folder 5/1
Lesbian/Gay Freedom Day Parade, 4x6 color prints
1978
Box/Folder 5/2
MCC (post-fire), 2 5x7 prints
Box/Folder 5/3
Marks, Senator Milton, large black and white prints
Box/Folder 5/4
Miscellaneous Events, various black and white prints
Box/Folder 5/5
Missouri Mule, bar, large black and white prints
Box/Folder 5/6
Motorcycle Runs, various black and white prints
Box/Folder 5/7
Motorcycle Runs/Leather Scene, various black and white prints
Box/Folder 5/8
Oil Can Harry's, bar, large black and white prints
Box/Folder 5/9
PS, Dinner with Doris, various prints
Box/Folder 5/10
St. Patrick's Day Parade, 4x6 color prints
1979
Box/Folder 5/13
Picnic (Tavern Guild?), various black and white prints
Box/Folder 5/14
Places, various black and white prints
Box/Folder 6/1
Politicians, various prints
Box/Folder 6/2
Politicians, various black and white prints
Box/Folder 6/3
Reno trip, 4x6 color prints
1979
Box/Folder 6/4
Ross, Bob, various black and white prints
Box/Folder 6/5
SIR, 6x8 black and white prints
Box/Folder 6/6
Sims (Jon) and Band, large black and white prints
Box/Folder 6/7
Softball, various black and white prints
Box/Folder 6/8
Stoll, Jim, Operation Concern, large black and white prints
Box/Folder 6/9
Tool Box (bar), various black and white prints
Box/Folder 6/10
Tricycle Race, various black and white prints
Box/Folder 6/11
Tricycle Race, various mounted black and white prints
Box/Folder 6/12
Wedding, various black and white prints
Box/Folder 6/13
Wedding (a different one), 6x8 black and white prints
Box/Folder 6/14
Travel (scrapbook)
circa 1930-1939
Box/Folder 6/15
Mostly Military
circa 1940-1949
Box/Folder 6/17
Travel (scrapbook)
circa 1950-1959
Box/Folder 6/18
Travel (scrapbook)
circa 1950-1959
Box/Folder 7/1
Photographs
circa 1950-1959
Box/Folder 7/4
Bars, extra, and bar related (color slides), 2x2, Paper Mounts
Box/Folder 7/5
Bicycle Run (color slides), 35mm
circa 1968
Box/Folder 7/6
Castro Street (color slides), 35mm
12/1971
Box/Folder 7/7
Charlotte, Peggy, and Golden Cask (color slides), 2x2, Paper Mounts
Box/Folder 7/8
Gay Softball (color slides), 35mm
4/1978
Box/Folder 7/9
Lake Tahoe (?) (color slides), 35mm
Box/Folder 7/10
Leleu Homes (color slides), 35mm
Box/Folder 7/11
MCC Easter at Land's End (color slides), 2x2, Paper Mounts
1971
Box/Folder 7/11
MCC Fire (color slides), 2x2, Paper Mounts
1974
Box/Folder 7/12
Male Erotica (color slides), 35mm
1961-1964
Box/Folder 7/13
Miscellaneous (color slides), 35mm
Box/Folder 7/14
Motorcycle/Leather Scene (color slides), 2x2, Paper Mounts
Box/Folder 7/14
Motorcycle Run (color slides), 35mm
1961-1964
Box/Folder 7/15
Motorcycle Run (color slides), 35mm
9/1968
Box/Folder 7/16
People (color slides), 2x2, Paper Mounts
Box/Folder 7/17
Skating Event (color slides), 2x2, Paper Mounts
Box/Folder 7/18
Tavern Guild Trip (color slides), 35mm
9/1970
Box/Folder 7/19
Titles and Signs (color slides), 2x2, Paper mounts
Box/Folder 7/19
Titles and Signs (color slides), 2x2, Paper mounts
Box/Folder 8/1
527 Club (negatives), bar
1973
Box/Folder 8/2
Barbary Coasters Gold Rush Run (negatives), motorcycle run or leather event
1968
Box/Folder 8/3
Beaux Arts Ball (negatives)
1971
Box/Folder 8/4
Le Bouef Grad Opening (negatives), bar event
Box/Folder 8/5
CMC 1st Run (Fish Camp) (negatives), motorcycle run or leather event
1964
Box/Folder 8/6
Cheater's Memorial Day Run (negatives), motorcycle run or leather event
1974
Box/Folder 8/7
Constantines Delta Run 3 (negatives), motorcycle run or leather event
Box/Folder 8/8
Covered Wagon-Putting in Pool (negatives), bar event
1970
Box/Folder 8/9
Detour, Detour Motorcycle Run (negatives), motorcycle run or leather event
Box/Folder 8/10
D'Oak Room (negatives), bar
Box/Folder 8/11
Felden Ganter Mortuary, Market at Duboce (negatives)
1977
Box/Folder 8/12
GGBA Dinner, Marine Memorial Dinner (negatives), bar
1/29/1976
Box/Folder 8/14
Gay Softball League (negatives)
1973-1979
Box/Folder 8/15
Girls Softball Team (negatives)
Box/Folder 8/16
Golden Cask staff and patrons at Giants Game (negatives), bar event
Box/Folder 8/17
Hanging of Sweetlips, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 8th (negatives)
1973-1978
Box/Folder 8/18
Hello Dolly-Tryouts and 1st Reading (negatives)
6/1979
Box/Folder 8/19
Kabuki Theater, Wizard of Oz (negatives)
8/23/1975
Box/Folder 8/20
Koalas 1st Run (negatives), motorcycle run or leather event
Box/Folder 8/21
Koalas Run to Harbin Springs (negatives), motorcycle run or leather event
Box/Folder 8/22
Koalas Run to Russian River (negatives), motorcycle run or leather event
Box/Folder 8/23
Koalas Run-Castro Valley (negatives), motorcycle run or leather event
7/29/1973
Box/Folder 8/24
Koalas Trip to lake Tahoe (negatives), motorcycle run or leather event
Box/Folder 8/25
Leleu, Henri Erotic Photos (negatives)
Box/Folder 8/26
Leleu, Henri Homes on States Street and 20th Street (negatives)
Box/Folder 8/27
Leleu, Henri Personal and Professional (negatives)
Box/Folder 8/28
Michele's 20th Anniversary Show Sheraton Palace (negatives), drag event
1/1975
Box/Folder 8/29
Mint (negatives), bar
circa 1974
Box/Folder 8/30
Miscellaneous (negatives)
Box/Folder 8/31
Miscellaneous (negatives)
Box/Folder 8/32
Miscellaneous (negatives)
Box/Folder 8/33
Miscellaneous, motorcycle/leather (negatives), motorcycle run or leather event
Box/Folder 8/34
Oil Can Harry's-Jane Fonda (negatives), bar event
5/21/1977
Box/Folder 8/35
On the QT (negatives), bar
1973-1977
Box/Folder 8/36
Other Bars and Restaurants (negatives), bars
Box/Folder 8/37
P.S., Michael Greer, performance (negatives), bar event
2/1977
Box/Folder 8/38
P.S. (negatives), bar
1973-1975
Box/Folder 8/39
P.S., Blood Drawing (negatives), bar event
6/20/1974
Box/Folder 8/40
Pendulum, Beauty Contest (negatives), bar event
6/1973
Box/Folder 8/42
Phoenix, Grand Opening (negatives), bar event
3/25/1974
Box/Folder 8/43
Picketing Federal Building (negatives)
1968
Box/Folder 8/44
Picketing Grace Cathedral (negatives)
1965
Box/Folder 8/44
Picketing Federal Building (negatives)
1966
Box/Folder 8/47
Ramrod's, 7th Run to the Delta (negatives), bar event
11/23/1974
Box/Folder 9/1
Rendezvous, 13th Anniversary (negatives), bar event
3/2/1975
Box/Folder 9/2
SIR Center and Board (negatives)
Box/Folder 9/3
Scottish Rite Temple (negatives)
Box/Folder 9/3
Scottish Rite Temple (negatives)
Box/Folder 9/4
Tavern Guild Picnic (negatives)
Box/Folder 9/5
Tool Box, 5th Run to Huckleberry Flats, (negatives), motorcycle run or leather event
6/6/1967
Box/Folder 9/6
Tool Box Demolition (negatives), bar event
4/28/1975
Box/Folder 9/7
Tricycle Race (negatives)
1973
Box/Folder 9/7
Tricycle Race (negatives)
1974
Box/Folder 9/8
Village Grand Opening (negatives), bar event
9/1977
Box/Folder 10/3
Europe, Page 1 (color slides on glass)
Box/Folder 10/4
Europe, Page 2 (color slides on glass)
Box/Folder 10/5
Europe, Page 3 (color slides on glass)
Box/Folder 10/6
Koalas 3rd Run to Harbin Springs (color slides on glass)
Box/Folder 10/7
Men in Swim Suits, Page 1 (color slides on glass)
Box/Folder 10/8
Men in Swim Suits, Page 2 (color slides on glass)
Box/Folder 10/9
Miscellaneous (color slides on glass)
Box/Folder 10/10
Miscellaneous (color slides on glass)
Box 11
Mostly Military photos, other early photos, postcards, and miscellaneous
Box/Folder 12/1
Travel Documents (legal sized documents)
1946
Box/Folder 12/2
Koalas Club (legal sized documents)
Box/Folder 12/3
Scribbles (legal sized documents)
Box/Folder 12/4
Senator Milton Marks (legal sized documents)
Box/Folder 12/5
Tavern Guild Constitutions (legal sized documents)
Box/Folder 12/6
Scrapbook (legal sized documents)
Box/Folder 12/7
Scrapbook (legal sized documents)
Box/Folder 12/8
Oversized photos (legal sized documents)
Box/Folder 12/9
Oversized photos (legal sized documents)
Box/Folder 12/10
Places (legal sized documents)
1945
Box 13
Tricycle Race in front of Mint (VHS master copy)
Box 13
Halloween Contest at Hayloft (VHS master copy)
Box 13
Costume Contest at Ramrod (VHS master copy)
Box 13
Laughing Policeman out-takes; Ramrod, Frolic Room (VHS master copy)
Box 13
Motorcycle Run out-takes, beginning pool excavation (VHS master copy)
circa 1969
Box 13
Covered Wagon, digging pool (VHS master copy)
Box 13
Halloween at the Ramrod (VHS master copy)
1968
Box 13
Halloween at the Ramrod (VHS master copy)
1969
Box 13
Motorcycle Runs, Koalas, BC, Constantines (VHS master copy)
1968-1969
Box 13
Folsom Street Parade, films by Rich Weiss (VHS master copy)
1970
Box 13
VHS Viewing Copies A, B, and C
circa 1965-1972, undated
Box 13
VT 1 and 2 (miniDVs)
circa 1965-1972
