The Carter Johnson Library & Collection

10/21/2026

10/21/2026

📚 It's Friends of the Library Week!!📚

Today's featured Friend is He###. If you have had the pleasure of sitting in one of her history classes or watched her Black Leather History Month video series, you know He### takes the preservation of it VERY seriously. Part of that is her unwavering support for the work we do. She shouts us out, wears our swag (I know y'all saw that Suck The Rainbow hoodie), and encourages others to do the same. If you're unfamiliar with He###, here's some more on her:

He### (she/her/they/them) is an eleventeen foot tall, Black and Filipina (allegedly) sassy Leatherwoman whose greatest interests include torturing others who ask for it and her kinks are education and Leather History; Black Leather History especially.

She stumbled upon her role as a Pro Domme in Southern California in the early 2000s when she didn't realize until about 20 years later that she had in fact been a Pro Domme. In the early y2k, she just saw what she was doing with the clientele she built as a hustle to combat being unhoused. She eventually left Southern California for Northern Nevada. While she had always been polyamorous, she eventually embraced solo polyamory and has been happy living alone ever since.

He### gravitated to Leather upon connecting with a local Leather Club in 2017 which served the Northern Nevada area via classes, community service and social events that are held at various local businesses to help support small business while fostering a safer and welcoming environment to those that attend. She started to attend their events but stayed for the community service participation opportunities.

He### has been an active Leather and community service member in the Reno area for a little over 6 years. She founded KinkEdNV, an education facilitation group in Northern Nevada in 2019 and became an ONYX Pearl in November 2020. Knowledge of the Leather community and those "whose shoulders she stands upon" (such her Grandma Vi Johnson, Jill Carter, Queen Cougar, Ms. Lash, Lady Cocoa, Stacey Thomas, Goddess Lakshimi and Lady) are the driving catalysts for the information she seeks and enthusiastically shares with those interested in learning too. Preservation and providing education of Leather History and our Elders is what draws her to What It Is That We Do.

He###, thank you for being a Friend of the Carter Johnson!💕

10/05/2026

Happy World Teachers' Day from the Carter Johnson Library & Collection!

Some teachers never really leave the classroom. They just find new rooms to teach in.

For 40 years, our Executive Director, Dr. Toni Solenne, stood in front of high school and college students and helped them see history as a story about people. She retired as a professor of history education. Her life's work was diversity education: building curriculum that welcomed everyone, training leaders, and pushing for justice. She co-edited a teaching guide on Frederick Douglass, authored the National Park Service's César Chávez educator toolkit, and wrote more social justice lessons than she can count. She holds an Ed.D. in Multicultural Education and a Board Certification in Sexology.

When she isn't teaching in a classroom, you'll find her teaching in leather. Toni is a proud leatherdyke, a Female Leathertarian Award recipient, and a Mid-Atlantic Pantheon of Leather honoree. Most of all, she is someone who loves bringing people together. With her wife, Fidget, she has built Women of Drummer into a worldwide family of kinky women. She has written two books about leatherwomen finding their identity and their power.

Ask Toni why she teaches and she'll tell you that our stories matter, and we have to carry them forward. Thank you, Toni, for carrying ours.

Pictured below:
Teaching workshop in Guanacosta, Costa Rica (Photo 1)
Speaking in Lafayette Park, DC against lax gun laws following the Pulse nightclub shooting

10/04/2026

The 4 Corners of the Carter Johnson is at Beyond Vanilla. Make sure you take a trip through history before you leave!

10/02/2026

Mama's October Challenge: ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE??

In this month's issue of the CJLC newsletter, Mama Vi issued a challenge to all of us. Check your registration status. All across the US, states have been purging rolls. We know mistakes can happen, and some people are finding that they were mistakenly removed. Maybe you've moved counties or states and just forgot to update your registration! No matter the reason, now is the time to double check. Call your local county/city clerks office or check your state's online site. Comment below if you've checked, and let everyone else know how easy it is to make sure your voice is heard!

09/06/2026

Storytelling has been passed down from elder to younger as long as humans have had speech. This weekend, Mama spent some time with our Artist- in- residence, Dior, doing some one on one griot education.

09/03/2026

Setup has started at MsC!

08/31/2026

We believe you deserve honesty, so we're coming to you directly with an update on where things stand with our 501(c)(3) status.

✅ We've returned to good standing with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

🔄 We've begun the process of redomesticating CJLC to the state of Indiana — where our collection and our work actually live

⏭️ Once that's complete, we'll file for federal reinstatement with the IRS

This has been a process, and we're grateful for every bit of patience, concern, and understanding you've shown us along the way. Your continued support is what keeps this Library's doors open and this history alive.
We'll keep you posted as each step moves forward. Thank you for standing with us. 📚

08/28/2026

Packing up more education and history for our MsC 2026 library exhibit! We're in a new room this year, and have a brand new layout. Can't wait to see you.. in the Library.

07/23/2026

It's Gorgeous Grandma Day 🥰! When you think of a gorgeous grandma, who comes to mind? Share a photo in the comments of YOUR gorgeous grandma, or just tell us all about them!