Franklin Paul Rogers, better known as Paul Rogers, was a well-respected tattoo artist, ambitious mentor, and the owner of multiple tattoo shops throughout the United States.

Fellow artists admired him for his work ethic, but more importantly, they trusted him because of his experience and loyalty to the art of tattooing.

In 1942 Rogers took a chance on his dream, leaving behind his job at the mill to focus on getting his shop up and rolling in Charleston, South Carolina. His courage paid off and in 1945 he struck up a partnership with fellow tattoo legend, Cap Coleman, whom he went on to work with for the next few years. Rogers also collaborated with Lathan Connelly and they opened tattoo studios in Petersburg, Virginia, and Jacksonville, North Carolina. He was never afraid to pursue a new adventure and frequently traveled, opening several shops along the way.

After years of traveling, Rogers wanted to shift his focus to the mail-order supply business of Spaulding & Rogers. A true innovator of industry, he took what he learned from his own experience, along with others, and used that to create tattoo machines. Rogers and Spaulding worked together in Jacksonville up until 1961.

Rogers was a friend to all in the industry, helping mentor apprentices and guide other artists. He was also one of the first artists to support and advocate for female tattoo artists.

He felt so devoted to the tattoo community that when he passed away he donated his extensive tattoo collection to the Tattoo Archives. The kindness that he extended to the industry lives on today through the nonprofit corporation, The Paul Rogers Tattoo Research Center, where their mission is to preserve tattoo history and promote the art of tattooing nationwide. Today we celebrate the life of Franklin Paul Rogers and the legacy he created.