Fall Small: A History of Roller Derby

From the emergence of roller derby in Chicago in the 1930s to the 2025 Roller Derby World Championships held in Innsbruck, Austria, two things have remained unchanged: quad skates and athleticism. This course examines transformations in the history of roller sports with a specific focus on roller derby over the past century. We will discuss the origins of roller derby, analyze the significance of gender and racial integration in the sport in mid-twentieth century, dive into the roller derby craze of the 1970s and 1980s, and explore the rebirth of roller derby in the 2000s. In addition to reading about derby and watching historical and contemporary bouts, we will also conduct oral history work by engaging with the founders and leaders of current borderless roller derby teams, including Black Diaspora Roller Derby, Jewish Roller Derby, and Fuego Latino.