Portland, Oregon’s Early Tattoo Traditions Researched & Written by Carmen Nyssen As with many a tattoo hub throughout history, Portland Oregon’s tattooing traditions hearken back to the city’s seafaring foundations—pioneered by expert navigator and merchant speculator, Captain John H. Couch. […]
Tattoo Magic on Main Street Original Research/Writing by Carmen Forquer Nyssen Los Angeles’ Main Street was homebase to an A-list of tattooers in the early part of the 20th Century. Within a several block stretch, the talented bunch—including Bert Grimm, […]
Oral History Tattoo Mystery: The Brothers Kamarit Written & Researched by Carmen Forquer Nyssen Since the day Carmen obtained her copy of Lyle Tuttle’s Tattoo Historian No. 1, in 2012, and read Bert Grimm’s oral history recollections in Barrs Noble’s […]
George Earl Fosdick Researched & Written by Carmen Nyssen Born: January 14, 1885 Shawano County, WisconsinDied: February 3, 1946 Portland, Multnomah, ORCremated: Chapel of Portland Crematorium Though not a Portland, Oregon native, “Sailor” George Fosdick made his mark as the […]
Charlie Barrs’ Tattoos Researched & Written by Carmen Nyssen Good ol’ Sailor Charlie Barrs—a quiet man who spoke with a slight German accent and was seldom seen without a stogie hanging from his mouth—was a master machinist-tattooer. That’s his main […]
Painless Nell & Hughie Bowen, Tattoo TeamBy Carmen Nyssen In my previous Granddaddy of all Good Tattooing: Sailor Charlie Barrs article from a couple weeks ago, I forgot to mention that Bert Grimm introduced my grandma (his niece) to Sailor Charlie, and […]
Granddaddy of all Good Tattooing: Sailor Charlie Barrs By Carmen Nyssen Sailor Charlie Barrs One very special highlight of my Great Great Uncle Bert Grimm’s career is his working relationship with Sailor Charlie Barrs. Barrs tattooed in a style known today […]
A Roundtrip Ticket to Tattoo: From So. Cal. to Honolulu Written & researched by Carmen Nyssen History of Tattooing in Hawaii: Los Angeles Steamship Co. Before the now renowned tattoo artist Sailor Jerry Collins arrived in Honolulu, a local tradition […]
Domingo Galang Researched/Written by Carmen Nyssen Born: January 27, 1884 Krayjah, Manila, Philippines Died: June 4, 1926 Honolulu, Oahu, HI Burial: South King Street Catholic Cemetery, Honolulu, Oahu, HI Of the numerous tattoo artists Bert Grimm crossed paths with over […]
Bert Grimm Written & Researched by Carmen Nyssen Born: February 8, 1900 Springfield, Greene, MODied: June 15, 1985 Warrenton, Clatsop, ORBurial: Ocean View Cemetery, Warrenton, Clatsop, OR Bert Grimm, born Edward Cecil Reardon, endures as an outstanding figure in American tattoo history. Over an […]
