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James Bruce Mason, Jr.

James Bruce Mason Jr. (November 07, 1898 - June 02, 1980) was an American artist, inventor and businessman. He was born in Durham North Carolina, and was the son of a prominent Durham banker James Bruce Mason II (1870-1938) and Agusta Seeman (1870-1911). He was the grandson of Durham attorney and NC State Senator, James Bruce Mason (1844-1900). [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4074363/wedding_james_bruce_mason_jr_wedding/ In June of 1918, he married Virginia Baird (1898-1993) at Broadway Presbyterian Church in Nashville TN. Virginia was the daughter of Lola Douglas Baird and grand daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Edward Douglas]. They had one son James Bruce Mason III, who later became a bombardier during WW2.

Prior to becoming an artist and inventor, James B Mason Jr. attended Vanderbilt University.He later became a pioneer in the art of wooden mosaics, having received recognition from National Geographic Magazine, The Smithsonian and multiple U.S. Politicians. In July of 1951 National Geographic Magazine published an article on his work titled "Versatile Wood Waits on Man". One of his most notable collections was a group of 33 original mosaic portraits of the Presidents of the United States that he produced over a 20 year period.

James B. Mason Jr. was also an inventor, having developed numerous patents including a lipstick dispenser, mechanical pencil, automobile bumper and more. In 1923, the first swivel-up tube was patented by James Bruce Mason Jr. in Nashville, Tennessee.