Roller Derby Hall of Fame

The Roller Derby Hall of Fame, also known as the National Roller Derby Hall of Fame, was founded in 1952,William H. Young and Nancy K. Young, World War II and the Postwar Years in America, p.596 by the editors of the Roller Derby News paper.

Johnny Rosasco and Josephine "Ma" Bogash were the first two skaters to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was initially displayed at Madison Square Garden, where the home offices of the sport were located.Keith Coppage, Roller Derby to RollerJam, p.80 Skaters could only be inducted after their retirement. However, four skaters were inducted and then returned to skating: Ann Calvello, Annis Jensen, Ken Monte and Charlie O'Connell.Keith Coppage, Roller Derby to RollerJam, p.122

When the International Roller Derby League, by then run by Leo Seltzer's son, Jerry, closed in 1973, the Hall of Fame also closed. As a result, several acclaimed skaters who had never retired were not inducted.

In the late 1990, Roller Derby fan Gary Powers built up a collection of memorabilia, principally through buying and selling on eBay, but also with donated memorabilia from former skaters. His collection of Roller Derby memorabilia is the largest in the world. He made contact with former skaters, including Calvello, Gerry Murray, Billy Bogash, Ivy King and Buddy Atkinson, Sr. and, by early 2004, his house was described by Time Out as an unofficial roller derby hall of fame."[http://www.rollerderbyhalloffame.com/id4.html Wholly Roller: A Brooklyn Resident pays tribute to the bygone sport of Roller Derby]", Time Out New York, February 26 – March 4, 2004 In September 2004, it was opened on an official basis, with the permission and blessing of Jerry Seltzer,"[http://www.rollerderbyhalloffame.com/ Welcome to the Roller Derby Hall of Fame]", Roller Derby Hall of Fame with Powers named as its Executive Director and Curator.Brendan McCarthy, "Down and Derby: Skating slugfest enjoys revival in the city of broad shoulders", Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2005 According to Reuters, the re-opened Hall of Fame "not only honors legends of the game but includes memorabilia like jerseys, tickets, and programs, preserving the history of the banked track sport"."[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hallsoffame-idUSTRE63F3I720100416 Cowboys, croquet, insurance in U.S. halls of fame]", Reuters, 16 April 2010

The National Roller Derby Hall of Fame & Museum closed in New York City in 2015, relocating to Palm Springs, California.