Gateway Motorcycle Club Photograph Collection
Scope and Contents
The Gateway Motorcycle Club Photograph Collection contains two photographs and one poster documenting the activities of the club. The two photographs show groups of men dressed in a uniform consisting of a white, button-down shirt and black pants. One photograph is captioned "Show Me XX" and likely commemorates the club's 20th anniversary. The other photograph shows the group posed on a small stage, with other men seated at tables in the foreground. The poster advertises the Gateway Saloon, "Home of Gateway M. C." and features a photograph of men posed together wearing a variety of leather.
Dates
- 1973 - 2014
Conditions Governing Access
No viewing restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright restrictions may apply. The user assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright.
Biographical / Historical
The Gateway Motorcycle Club (AKA "Gateway MC") was a St. Louis-based social club in operation from 1973 to 2014. Its members were primarily gay men, especially those who considered themselves to be relatively masculine and who were drawn to the leather scene. While ostensibly founded as a club for men interested in motorcycles, owning a motorcycle was not required and was peripheral to the club's activities for most of its history. The Gateway Motorcycle Club was a local example of a kind of gay men's social club that appeared in many other American cities in this era.
The Gateway Motorcycle Club put on annual "run," a gathering that drew members of other gay leather and motorcycle clubs from the St. Louis area and around the country. The Gateway Motorcycle Club also put on the annual Mr. Missouri Leather contest, in addition to a variety of other social events. The club raised money for charities, typically ones that served St. Louis's LGBTQ community or people with HIV/AIDS.
Extent
0.04 Cubic Feet (; 2 folders (2 photographs, 1 poster))
Language of Materials
English
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
No physical or technical restrictions.
Custodial History
Donor was a former member of the Gateway MC and co-owner of the bar JJ's Clubhouse, which was the last home bar of the Gateway MC.
Donor Information
Collection donated by Jerry Jurak in 2020.
Existence and Location of Copies
Digital copies and item-level records of select images are posted as they are created and can be accessed through the Online Collections on the Missouri Historical Society website (mohistory.org/collections).
Digitized images are generated from the original item whenever possible and files are adjusted only to ensure an accurate representation. Master files are saved in TIF format and JPEG viewing files are automatically generated from the master files.
Separated Materials
See the Archives Department and the Museum Collections Department for additional materials from this donation.
Formats
Photographs; Poster
Processing Information
Processed by Lauren Sallwasser, 2021.
- Title
- Guide to the Gateway Motorcycle Club Photograph Collection.
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- EAD by Lauren Sallwasser using ArchivesSpace.
- Date
- 2021
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Missouri Historical Society, Photographs and Prints Department Repository
Library and Research Center
225 South Skinker Boulevard
St. Louis MO 63105
photo@mohistory.org