The Case of an Obscure Tattooer: Prof. J.L. Hayes
By Carmen Nyssen
In tattoo history, we often meet phrases like “obscure historical figure” and words like “ephemeral” (short-lived and out of reach). But such language is all a matter of perspective. I’m sure one Prof. J.L. Hayes would agree.
The relatively unknown tattoo artist James Leonard Hayes was born in New York in 1851. As early as 1890 he was tattooing in Chicago, making him a contemporary of famed tattoo characters Sam O’Reilly, Elmer Getchell, and Edwin Thomas of the infamous New York Bowery. Unlike his cohorts, Prof. Hayes didn’t make nationwide newspapers on a regular basis. He was one of many tattoo artists of the era, who went about daily business without cause of celebrity.
Who Was Prof. J.L. Hayes?
J.L. Hayes came to my attention years ago, when I was documenting better known tattoo artist Walter Torun of San Diego, CA. The rousing clue was a witness signature on Torun’s 1920 naturalization application: “Jas L. Hayes, artist 337 F Street.” The word “artist” and the address (the last tattoo shop location of good ol’ Sailor Gus before he died a year earlier) beckoned:
“Dig deeper!”
Sure enough an investigation revealed that J.L. Hayes was a tattoo artist ……from way back.
J.L. Hayes, Tattooer Unobscured
Prof. Hayes was a nomadic tattooer, so his relocations to various port cities have been difficult to track extensively.
Locations:
1890: Chicago, Illinois
1909-1911: New Orleans, LA (1021 Iberville)
1911-1916: San Francisco, CA (With James Johnson on the Embarcadero)
1920-1936: San Diego, CA (Various locations)
Prof J.L. Hayes’ shooting gallery-tattoo shop was located in New Orleans French Quarter, in the mix of the infamous vice district’s brothels, dance halls, and saloons situated near the riverport.
—
Prof. Hayes’ connections to Walter Torun and Sailor Gus, on the other hand, reveals several things:
1) He was well-established in the tattoo world.
2) In his day, he was relevant.
3) He had a story awaiting discovery.
Further evidence of all this came to me recently by way of …Voila!
A beautifully illustrated “Prof. J.L. Hayes-Electric Tattoo Artist” business card:
“Special Designs Made to Order”
“1000 Designs to Select From”
“Machines Colors and Designs for Sale”
“Books of Designs”
Clearly, this lesser known tattoo artist, who sold tattoo machines and 1000 designs, was a player in the historical matrix. Maybe we don’t know specifics—whether he sold quality items, how well he tattooed, and so on—and perhaps we never will. The point is we shouldn’t assume Prof. Hayes, or any other tattooer, was less legit than tattooers who actively sought notoriety.
Tattoo History Truisms
Prof. Hayes’s short, but telling resume reinforces a lesson about researching tattoo history. We shouldn’t limit exploration by accepting over-aggrandizing as the totality of tattooing, or overlook what seems insignificant. Tattoo history deserves a look through a wider lens from many angles. There’s a grand picture—made of infinite snapshots—that keeps coming together with every uncovered tidbit.
James Leonard Hayes: 1851 to April 2, 1936
1936 Apr 2 San Diego Union Tribune pg B5: “Hayes -1936 Apr 2 “James Leonard Hayes, aged 85 years. Friends are invited to attend services Saturday, 2 p.m., Merkley’s Mortuary, 3655 5th ave., Rev. Shorley Shaw officiating. Interment, Greenwood Memorial Park.”
For further reading:
See Buzzworthy Tattoo History Post: A Tattoo Journey for an update on the address on the back of J. L. Hayes’ San Francisco tattoo trade card (from my tattoo memorabilia collection).
Also check out Buzzworthy Tattoo History research articles about early port city tattooers and their inter-meshing with the local scene at: Saloon-Tattoo Shops of New York City’s 4th Ward and Prof. Jacob Londella: Tattooer of San Francisco’s Old Chinatown
Questions or Comments? Email:
carmennyssen@buzzworthytattoo.com
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