About Roller Derby Legacy
Preserving roller derby history for everyone
Roller Derby Legacy is an independent digital archive preserving the people, teams, events, photographs, programs, films, documents, and memories that shaped the sport — kept free and open for families, skaters, researchers, and fans.
Our mission
A free, lasting home for roller derby history
Permanently free
Historical records are a free public resource — no paywall or subscription for access.
Materials preserved
Fragile photographs, films, programs, and documents are digitized and protected.
Reviewed before publishing
Community contributions and identifications are reviewed before they appear publicly.
Source-backed records
Public claims are tied to sources, and uncertainty is shown honestly.
The founding story
From 22 boxes to a living digital archive
This archive began with the historical collection preserved by my grandmother, Loretta Behrens. Over decades she saved photographs, programs, newspaper clippings, recordings, documents, and memorabilia spanning much of roller derby history.
More than 22 boxes of that history were carefully packed and brought to Japan, where they are now being sorted, scanned, and digitized — page by page, box by box — to build a permanent, free public resource in her honor. These materials should not stay hidden in boxes or be lost to age; the goal is to share them with families, skaters, researchers, and fans everywhere.
Read Our StoryWork in progress · Japan
How it started — scanning the collection in Japan
From a workspace in Japan, the collection is being scanned, organized, and prepared for the archive. Each photograph, program, and document is digitized, then reviewed and tagged so it can be connected to the people, teams, and events it belongs to.
Collection of Loretta Behrens. Digitization and preservation by Roller Derby Legacy.
Why the archive exists
History fades when no one preserves it
Much of roller derby's history survives only in fragile, scattered form:
- Photographs fade and deteriorate over time.
- VHS tapes and DVDs become harder to play with every passing year.
- Programs and clippings stay hidden in boxes and attics.
- Personal knowledge can disappear between generations.
Digitizing and organizing these materials keeps them accessible long after the originals are gone.
What you'll find
Explore the archive
People & skaters
Profiles of the skaters, officials, and contributors who built the sport.
Teams & Hall of Fame
Teams, leagues, and the Hall of Fame induction classes.
Events
Games, tournaments, reunions, and ceremonies.
Venues & eras
The places and decades that shaped roller derby history.
Photographs & programs
Digitized photographs, programs, posters, and memorabilia.
Newspapers & documents
Clippings, articles, rosters, and historical documents.
Video & audio
Restored match footage, interviews, and recordings.
Stories & memories
Personal accounts shared by families, skaters, and fans.
How preservation works
From a box of memories to a public record
Contributed
Families, skaters, fans, and collectors share photographs, documents, and memories.
Preserved
Files are digitized and stored securely so fragile originals are protected.
Reviewed
Information and identifications are checked against available sources.
Published
Approved records become part of the free public archive.
Historical accuracy
Facts, research, and personal memories — kept distinct
Historical facts are reviewed against available sources. Research that is still in progress is shown as such, and personal memories are presented as personal accounts rather than silently replacing the documented record.
A citation supports a specific statement — it does not mean an entire profile is settled history.
Where accounts conflict, we keep the underlying sources and show the disagreement honestly instead of choosing one version silently.
The founding collection
It began with one family's collection
Roller Derby Legacy grew from the collection of Loretta Behrens, a professional skater who spent decades preserving roller derby history. Her photographs, programs, clippings, recordings, and memorabilia became the archive's founding collection.
It is the starting point — not the limit — of what this archive can hold.
Read the story behind the collectionFrom the collection
Inside the founding collection
A selection of materials from the founding collection — photographs, programs, newspapers, recordings, and memorabilia. Select any image to view it larger and browse through the set.
Built with the community
Who this archive is for
Families
Preserve a relative's legacy and share photographs, memories, and corrections.
Former skaters
Add your own history, identify teammates, and share programs and stories.
Fans & collectors
Contribute programs, photographs, recordings, and memorabilia.
Researchers & historians
Connect sources, surface records, and help resolve historical questions.
Teams & organizations
Document team histories, rosters, venues, and events.
A long-term commitment
Free to access, built to last
This archive is built to remain a free public resource:
- No paywall and no subscription for access to historical records.
- Contributions are reviewed, with a record of changes kept over time.
- The work is designed to continue beyond any one person.
- The community is invited to help it grow responsibly.
Take part
Help preserve the next piece of history
Share photographs, programs, documents, stories, or information that can help expand the public archive — every contribution is reviewed before it becomes part of the record.