Franklin Paul Rogers

Franklin Paul Rogers
Paul Rogers, National Tattoo Convention 1988 Orlando.
Born	9 September 1905 Swain County, North Carolina, US
Died	27 February 1990 Jacksonville, Florida, US
Burial place	Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Chesapeake, Virginia, US
Other names	Paul Rogers
Occupation	Tattoo artist
Spouse	Helen Gertrude Rogers

Franklin Paul Rogers (1905–1990) was an American tattoo artist. He trained under Cap Coleman in Norfolk, Virginia from 1945–1950.^[1] He designed tattoo machines, which he called "irons", a term he coined that is used in the industry. People from all over the world would visit him in his “Iron Factory” where he taught them about tattoo machine building. In his early life, he was in the traveling circus.^[2] He also helped start a mail-order supply business, Spaulding & Rogers.^[3] He is buried at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Rogers contributed to the development of the American traditional tattoo style.^[4] Don Lucas, a tattoo artist and tattoo historian, wrote a book based on interviews with him, titled The Father of American Tattooing (1990).^[5]