Atons of Minneapolis: Among the Oldest Leather/Levi Fraternities in the U.S. and Internationally
Founding of the Atons (1972)
The Atons of Minneapolis were founded in 1972 and have been active ever since. They are one of the nation’s oldest continuously active leather/Levi social fraternities. Their founding helped organize and unify the leather community in the Midwest, where no formal leather group had previously existed.
MACC Clubs Context
Within the Mid-America Conference of Clubs (MACC) history, only a few clubs predate the Atons:
- Second City MC (Chicago) – Founded 1965 (now defunct)
- Chicago Hellfire Club (Chicago) – Founded 1971 (still active, no longer a MACC member)
- Chicago Knight (Chicago) – Founded 1971 (now defunct)
- Tribe MC (Detroit) – Founded 1971 (now defunct)
Thus, among active MACC clubs, the Atons is the oldest continuously active club.
Other Major U.S. Leather Clubs
Beyond MACC, a few leather/Levi clubs in the U.S. founded before 1972 remain continuously active:
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- Satyrs Motorcycle Club (Los Angeles) – Founded 1954, the world’s oldest continuously active gay motorcycle/leather club.
- Oedipus Motorcycle Club (Los Angeles) – Founded 1958.
- Empire City MC (New York City) – Founded 1964.
- Spartan Motorcycle Club (Washington, D.C./Baltimore) – Founded 1968.
- Chicago Hellfire Club (Chicago) – Founded 1971.
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International Context
Internationally, a few leather organizations were founded in the 1960s and early 1970s, but many early clubs were informal and did not survive continuously. The Satyrs MC (USA, 1954) remains recognized as the oldest internationally. Clubs in Europe, Canada, and Australia emerged more prominently in the mid-to-late 1970s and 1980s.
Conclusion
Founded in 1972 and continuously active since, the Atons of Minneapolis are confirmed to be among the oldest surviving leather/Levi fraternities in the United States and internationally. Their decades-long contributions to the leather community, through social events, outreach, and fraternity, remain a cornerstone of the Midwestern and national leather scene.
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