#noacademicsneeded

Here’s three from S. State St. from 1960. These are amazing!!! Thanks to @theofficialbobjones for getting pics of his dads tattoos. This is what it’s all about documenting this type of tattoo history!!!!! Ask your parents ask your grand parents. Take the photos hear the stories. #greatlakestattoo #tattoohistorybytattooers #noacademicsneeded #chicagotattoohistory #tattoohistoryhappensintattooshops (at Chicago History Museum) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByFvIhgF1f6/?igshid=1opjve430tq4f

This man was the barker/clerk with Tatts and Ralph at the arcade at 414 South State St. among other places. He was completely tattooed by both Tatts and Ralph and the pic in the lower right is him and Tatts as much younger men working on his back. This pic and many more items are available for viewing in the collection displayed @greatlakestattoo #greatlakestattoo #tattoohistorybytattooers #chicagotattoohistory #tattoohistoryhappensintattooshops #noacademicsneeded #chicagohistory #southstatestreet #tattsthomas #ralphjohnstone #thedevilsmile (at Great Lakes Tattoo) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxe74SxFdGk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1g6z30111xkfm

Here’s a photo of “Jungle Jim” in front of Tatts Thomas’ shop at State St and Harrison St. in Chicago. This photo is in the display case along with a lot of Chicago’s tattoo history @greatlakestattoo This photo was gifted to me by @carmennyssen who along with @rich_hardy are two of the most dedicated researchers of tattoo history. Please check out buzzworthy tattoo for more of their research, insight and knowledge. There’s a lot of fakers out there spitting bullshit to advance themselves. All of them are talking out of the sides of their necks. Don’t be fooled!! #noacademicsneeded #tattoohistorybttattooers #ifyoucantgetajobteachingleavetattooingalone #greatlakestattoo #chicagostattoohistory #chicagohistory #ralphjohnstone #tattsthomas #chicago #statestreet (at Chicago History Museum) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpDXKXSnYUS/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=11cmgy6wdjycn

Done by Tatts Thomas when he was in Kenosha with Greg May. After the law change in Chicago in 1963 Tatts made his way up to Milwaukee to work with Dietzel until tattooing was outlawed there. He made his way down to Kenosha with Greg May and was eventually headed back to Chicago to work with Cliff Raven at 900 Belmont. He never made it back down to work on Belmont and he passed June 1 1969. Look around there’s tattoo history all around you. #greatlakestattoo #tattoohistorybytattooers #chicagohistory #chicagotattoohistory #noacademicsneeded (at Great Lakes Tattoo)

Reposted from @chicagostattoohistory Not actual tattoo history but this will give you an idea of how South State St rolled back then. On the right side is the Pacific Garden mission, if you read Bad Boys and Tough Tattoos Phil Sparrow talks a lot about how the PGM would feed the down and outs of the neighborhood but they had to hear a sermon first to get the meal. On the left side is the 666 Lounge this lounge was actually across the parking lot from the PGM. So these guys would get busy with the devil at the 666 then go across the parking lot and get saved and get a meal at the Mission. Follow @chicagostattoohistory and learn your lit. #greatlakestattoo #chicagotattoohistory #chicagohistory #tattoohistorybytattooers #noacademicsneeded (at Café Marie Jeanne)

The coolest of cool Ralph Johnstone taking a break in front of the State and Harrison shop. Just came across this negative and wanted to put it out there. #greatlakestattoo #ralphjohnstone #chicagostattoohistory #chicagohistory #tattsthomas #tattoohistorybytattooers #noacademicsneeded (at Chicago History Museum)

Phil Sparrow a Chicago icon. Phil is responsible introducing Cliff Raven to tattooing as well as working with Kinsey to compile information for the Kinsey Report. He wrote many books including Bad Boys and Tough Tattoos which chronicled tattoo life on South State St. in the 1950s #greatlakestattoo #chicagotattoohistory #chicagohistory #tattoohistorybytattooers #tattoohistory #noacademicsneeded (at Chicago History Museum)

Sacred heart done by Ralph Johnstone late 50s in Chicago on South State Street. Tattoo history walks by you everyday! Check out more of Chicago’s tattoo history @chicagostattoohistory #greatlakestattoo #chicagotattoohistory #ralphjohnstone #tattoohistorybytattooers #noacademicsneeded (at Chicago History Museum)