80,000 objects. One culture.
From Tom Blake's hollow paddleboard to a near-mint Velzy pig, the SHACC collection is the most comprehensive public-facing record of surf culture in existence.
What we hold
The collection is organized into six core categories, each maintained by a specialist curator.
- Surfboards2,400+
Plank to thruster, 1885 → today
- Magazines12,000
SURFER, SURFING, The Surfer's Journal, more
- Photography60,000+
Prints, slides, contact sheets, negatives
- Film & Video1,800 hrs
Original 16mm to digital masters
- Oral Histories320
Surfers, shapers, photographers, builders
- Ephemera8,500
Contest programs, posters, fin templates
Currently on view
A rotating curatorial program drawing from SHACC's permanent collection and partner institutions.
Have something significant?
SHACC accepts donations of boards, photography, film, magazine archives, contest memorabilia, and personal collections. Qualifying donations are tax-deductible and may be eligible for permanent accessioning.
Loaned to museums on six continents.
SHACC has provided objects to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, the Getty, the V&A, MoMA PS1, and regional institutions from Bondi to Biarritz.
Long-term and rotating loans.
We work with private collectors, family estates, and partner institutions interested in long-term loan agreements that preserve ownership while bringing important objects into public view.
The archive is open to scholars.
Academic researchers, journalists, filmmakers, and authors can request access to physical and digital archive materials. Steps: (01) Submit a request — outline your project, the materials you need, and your timeline. We respond within 5 business days. (02) Schedule a session — in-person research is by appointment only. Remote scans and reproductions are available for most materials. (03) Cite & credit — a standard credit line, image rights, and use policy will be provided with your access agreement.