The Roma Archives of Finland − Finitiko kaalengo arkiivos

Kuva: Voitto Kantokorpi. SKS.
Photo: Voitto Kantokorpi (SKS)
The Roma Archives of Finland – Finitiko kaalengo arkiivos is the joint collection of the Finnish Literature Society (SKS) and the National Archives of Finland for material of the Romani cultural heritage. The collection consists of material based on folklore, oral history and cultural history and archives donated by private individuals and Romani associations. The material depicts the life of the Roma people in Finland as told by Romani individuals and representatives of the main population.

The Roma Archives of Finland − Finitiko kaalengo arkiivos collection was developed in the Cultural Heritage of the Roma people: Archiving, Valuation and Research (2016–2018) project. The project was part of Finland’s National Policy on Roma.

The project brochure is available in Finnish and English.

This page in roma language. Dauva paȟ romani tšimbaha.

Romani material of the Finnish Literature Society

SKS has collected Romani folklore and oral history since the 1960s. The material has been donated by researchers, heritage collectors and active members of the Roma community. Only limited material was collected in the SKS archives prior to the 1960s.

The Romani material of SKS forms a part of the collection on traditional and contemporary culture and the collection on literature and cultural history. Collections of the SKS unit in Joensuu also include Romani material.

Catalogues of the material are available from SKS customer service locations in Helsinki and Joensuu.

Permissions and restrictions

The use of material from the Roma Archives of Finland − Finitiko kaalengo arkiivos collection is always subject to a permission. The permission must be applied for in writing. It is granted by the archive director with regard to SKS material within the scope of any restrictions.