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National African American Roller Skating Archive (NAARSA) transparent logo

Archive Established

In 2004, OFSA entered into an agreement with the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center (MSRC) at Howard University to establish the National African American Roller Skating Archive (NAARSA).

 

OFSA's role within the partnership is to connect with the community to collect items documenting the participation of African Americans in all aspects of roller skating.  ​OFSA also works to promote the collection and the history captured within, organizing exhibits and producing other works to share the unique rich history revealed.

 

Moorland Spingarn Research Center (MSRC) is the permanent repository where the collection is maintained and persevered. To learn more about the amazing mission and worked performed at the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center (MRSC) visit  https://library.howard.edu/MSRC

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naarsa collection

Bill Howland Roller Skater | National African American Roller Skating Archive (NAARSA)

Images capturing every aspect of the African American community's involvement in roller skating. 

Fantastic World of Wheels - Soul Travelers | National African American Roller Skating Archive (NAARSA)

Paper documents includes fliers, programs, books, articles, manuscripts, organizational records, and personal roller skate stories.   

Beat Keeper Wheels | National African American Roller Skating Archive (NAARSA)

Historic and unique examples of skate apparel, skate equipment, videos, medals, patches, and everything Style.

archive Submission 

Become a part of history!  The collection process is on-going. New items are being accepted.  Submit items to the NAARSA via mail with a completed submission form. 

Submission Form

ORAL HISTORY PARTNERSHIP

Our Family Skate Association partnered with StoryCorp to record over 130 roller skater stories across America. As part of the Griot Project, their stories are now included in the Smithsonian Museum of African American History & Culture collection and stored at the Library of Congress.

Everybody has a skate story. What's yours? Submit your skate story to the archive.

Guidance Sheet
Submit your story

VIDEOS

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