Mrs. Maud

Mrs. Maud Stevens Wagner

Did you know Mrs. Maud Stevens Wagner, born in 1877 in Kansas, was the U.S.’s first known female tattoo artist? She was also an aerlialist and contortionist who would learn the art of tattooing from her husband, Gus (someone also touring with the sideshows and circuses at the time.) In fact, Gus and Maud were allegedly two of the last tattoo artists in the country who continued to work by hand in spite of the invention of the tattoo machine in the late 1800s.

Their daughter Lotteva, born in 1910 and tattooing since the age of 9, would also go on to become a tattoo artist. Lotteva was their second daughter, their first died as an infant (1 mo.) in 1908.

Maud died at her daughter’s home in Lawton, Oklahoma in 1961 (outliving Gus by 20 years) and was laid to rest in Homestead Township, Kansas. Lotteva would die in 1993.

Gus had implemented all seeing eyes in his work so I thought it only appropriate to give his love one of her own in this photo collage.

𝑷𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒈𝒆; Historical Sources Utilized—

Portrait of Mrs. Maud Stevens Wagner (first known female tattoo artist in the United States), showing images tattooed on her upper body. Photograph. 1907

Augustus “Gus” Wagner (American, 1872-1941); Victor Lundblad tattooed by Gus Wagner 1902 (left) and Gus Age 30 (right), 1902.
Page from Souvenirs of the Travels and Experiences of the Original Gus Wagner, Globe Trotter & Tattoo Artist scrapbook (detail) c. 1897-1941. Courtesy South Street Seaport Museum