The Drake Community Library hosted a presentation on “Iowa’s Own Monuments Man: George Stout,” a presentation by Nancy Trask, the director of the Winterset Public Library. The event discussed the childhood and young adult years of George Stout, who was born in Winterset, Iowa. Stout worked during World War II to protect important monuments and historical buildings from bombings.

“We have a wonderful Iowa hero to claim as our own. Knowledge of George Stout and his work helps us to build our sense of pride in our state. Learning about the Allied efforts to save the cultural artifacts belonging to the 18 countries occupied by the Nazis makes us aware of the tremendous value of our culture,” Trask wrote in an email to The S&B.

Trask’s presentation makes use of her extensive research on the Monuments Men and includes information from communications with Stout’s granddaughter, articles from newspapers and magazines provided by the publicist for the Hollywood movie “The Monuments Men” and other historical resources from Winterset.