Coauthored by Cornell University librarian Janet McCue and documentary filmmaker Paul Bonesteel, “George Masa: A Life Reimagined” is the first comprehensively researched biography of the visionary Japanese photographer whose dedication to art and conservation helped spur the national park movement in the Great Smoky Mountains, as well as the creation of the Appalachian Trail. The book also explores the many trials Masa endured — scrutiny in 1918 from the agency now known as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, harassment from the Ku Klux Klan in 1921, and the collapse of the economy, his business and his health in the early 1930s — while still choosing to devote himself to the conservation of the Southern Appalachians. 

Each year since 2003, the North Caroliniana Society has recognized one book “that captures the essence of North Carolina by contributing powerfully to an understanding of the state.” Nominees — and ultimately award recipients — are chosen by a committee that privately surveys all books published during the year, then selects the volume it believes “makes a positive contribution and appears to have the best chance of standing the test of time as a classic volume of North Caroliniana.” Representatives from the North Caroliniana Society described Masa’s life story as the “unanimous choice” for the award’s 22nd year, noting that it is the first biography to receive this recognition in many years.

Across state lines, the East Tennessee Historical Society honored Masa’s biography with a 2025 Project Excellence Award through its Awards of Excellence program, established in 1982 to annually recognize individuals and organizations for significant contributions to the preservation, promotion and interpretation of the region’s history. Eligible projects include exhibits, lectures, conferences, publications, print and broadcast media, teaching and lifetime achievement. Recipients, including the authors of “A Life Reimagined,” were honored at a May 31 awards ceremony at the Museum of East Tennessee History in Knoxville. 

“George Masa: A Life Reimagined” is available in print and e-book format. The six-by-nine-inch paperback, which includes a 32-page color photo insert, is available for $28.95 in the park’s visitor center bookstores; the book and e-book are both available at smokieslife.org/george-masa-a-life-reimagined.