Between the Covers

Unbound. Approximately 274 chromogenic or Polaroid color photographs (with one black and white gelatin silver image) revolving around the Southern California Chapter of the outlaw biker club the Renagades. Various formats, most are approximately 5" x 3½", with a variants slightly larger or smaller. A few with captions on the verso. Many are date stamped between 1975-1979, with a single image dated in 1981. A little fading on a few images, some soiling, mostly on the backs of the images, overall near fine.

Photographs compiled by a female club associate, the images revolve around club events, mostly rallys of various sorts, in particular with two generous caches of images: one of a rally held in conjunction with the Salvation Army to bring toys to underprivileged children which includes a biker Santa Claus, serious looking uniformed gentlemen from the Salvation Army and biker leaders delivering speeches on the front steps of a town hall, and several of a perky uniformed young woman from the Salvation Army perched on a chopper, presumably reevaluating her lifestyle choices, while a scraggly biker stands beside her holding a large stuffed animal ("Woodstock" from *Peanuts*).

The other event specific group of images are of a biker wedding, with several images of the happy couple seated on a bike, brandishing their wedding license, kissing, and the maids of honor (distinguished by their virginal white halter tops). Most of the other images are of rallies, with less specific purposes and a few show members of other clubs including the Hell's Angels and the Quaffs (from Riverside, a relatively short-lived club that only lasted into the 1980s) are pictured. Several of the bikers, from different clubs wear patches or tee-shirts from the Modified Motorcycle Association, apparently an umbrella group that sponsored the Toy Run.

Other photos capture numerous images of denim-clad, tattoo-adorned bikers participating in runs and rides, camping, drinking, posed on bikes, and many with young women in halter or tank tops and denim, one with a tattoo on her shoulder blade declaring "Property of Renegades M.C.," and another with a jacket expressing the same sentiment. The Renegades are one the three or four largest clubs in the country. Although not without a share of prosaic images, this substantial group of subject specific photos include a surprising number of well-composed and compelling subjects, and suggest a continuous narrative that evolves as one explores the archive.

Item #438274