During WWII, Winterset, Iowa native George Stout was a member of the U.S. Army's "Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program" devoted to recovering art and other items of cultural importance that had been stolen by Nazis or hidden for safekeeping.

In 2014 these men and their mission became known world-wide with the release of the film “The Monuments Men,” directed by and starring George Clooney, whose character Frank Stokes was based on George Stout.

Nancy Trask, Director of the Winterset Public Library in Winterset, Iowa has spent years researching George Stout and the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program.