Document text
Folklore
Fa1111 B
Personal History of Informant
Washington
Peter D. Salm.
Seattle, Washington
December 19, 2.938
"Tattoo"
Louis (Sailor George) Stevens
1.
2.
3. (Not obtainable)
Folklore
FCRM A
Circumstances of Interyiew
Washington
Peter D. Salvus
Seattle, Washington
December 19, 1938
*Tattoos
1. Louis (Sailor George) Stevens, 172- Washington St.
2, December 19, 1938
3. Stevens shop
4. None
3, None
6. Small tattoo shop in Seattle's skidroad district.
Folklore Folkways, Sea Salvus
Tattoo
During the World War sailors of the United Stains Navy would line up,
as many as ten at a time, in their bare feet, in my tatoo shop and I was so
busy I had to have my wife help me with the tattoo work. The barefooted
sailors would have a pig tatooed on one foot and a chicken on the other. They
said it would save thom in case their ship was torpedoed. I don't know why.
Most of the persons who come to my shop have religious emblems with the
word *Mother* engraved on their arms or chests. Sometimfthey have the name
of their wife or sweetheart. Lots of times men come in and have their sweet-
heart's name rubbed out and another one put in. They say -their new wife or
sweetheart doesn't like the idea of them wearing another woman'', name.
Since social security numbers have been issued people have them tattoo-
ed on their arm so they won't forget them. Soldiers usually have an entwin-
ed dagger with the words *Death Before honor* on their arms.
Louis (Sailor George) Stevens has been a tatoo artist nearly all his
life and has worked on the edge of Seattle's *skidroad* district 22 years.
He claims to be the only tattooer who has studied art and holds certif*tes
4,
from Oakland and Berkeley, Cal., schools. He was born in Kismarja, Hungry,
A
in 1861 and has been in the United States 32 years. Be speaks with atroad
Hungarian accent,. His shop is at 172- Washington St.