The professional name George Masa was adopted by a Japanese immigrant who fundamentally altered the preservation of the Appalachian wilderness. Arriving in North Carolina in 1915, this multifaceted entrepreneur transitioned from hotel laundry worker to a pivotal figure in the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park through his technical proficiency in photography and cartography.
Early Life and Immigration
Born Shoji Endo in Tokyo on April 6, 1885, he was the son of a landlord and was adopted by a lawyer at age three. After a failed attempt to enter the United States in 1904, he successfully immigrated in 1906. He spent nine years on the West Coast, working various jobs and playing baseball, before eventually moving to Asheville, North Carolina, in July 1915.
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After working at the Grove Park Inn, he joined Asheville photographer Herbert Pelton in 1918 to refine his finishing skills. He later established his own enterprise, Plateau Studio, operating under various names such as A. B. Photo. His clients included prominent local figures like the Vanderbilt and Grove families. Beyond portraiture, he worked in cinematography, documenting silent films, newsreels, and features like Ripley's Believe It or Not.
Conservation and the National Park
Masa became a central advocate for the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He utilized an odometer fashioned from a bicycle to map geographical features, assisting the North Carolina Nomenclature Committee in standardizing place names. His photographic documentation of the region played a decisive role in lobbying for federal protection. He additionally scouted and marked significant portions of the Appalachian Trail.
Death and Recognition
Tuberculosis ended his life in 1933. The Carolina Mountain Club managed his burial in Asheville's Riverside Cemetery. His collaborative work, A Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, was published the year of his death. In 1961, Masa Knob was named in his honor. He was later inducted into the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame in 2018.
Fast facts
- Born: 6 April 1885, Tokyo
- Died: 1933, Asheville
- Original Name: Shoji Endo
- Immigrated to USA: 1906
- Primary Occupation: Photographer
- Notable Work: A Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Honors: Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame (2018)
- Commemoration: Masa Knob (1961)
Questions readers ask
Did George Masa successfully advocate for the national park?
Yes, his photographic evidence and extensive mapping of the Great Smoky Mountains were instrumental in the project's success and federal recognition.
Why was Masa's business success challenging in Asheville?
He faced significant obstacles including investigation by the Bureau of Investigation, harassment from the Ku Klux Klan in 1921, and the broader economic collapse.
