GAIL G HOLMES RESEARCH

Gail Holmes has made substantial contributions to historical research on the Early Latter-day Saints in the Middle Missouri Valley over the past 55 years. He corrected historical information to highlight the Mormons' contributions to Council Bluffs and researched extensively on Native American tribes in the area. Gail has also published various works, given presentations at conferences, led historical tours, and been involved with several historical and genealogical organizations. His research and contributions have significantly enriched the understanding of the region's history. In this archive you will find vast information about the earliest people who lived in the land, the Native Americans including the Omaha, Pottawattamie, Ioway, Pawnee, and Ponca tribes and their chiefs. His research culminated in the publishing of his book, “The Chiefs of Council Bluffs.” His book is included in this archive. After the pioneer’s two-year stay at Winter Quarters in today’s Florence NE, they crossed the Missouri River back to Iowa and built 60+ settlements. Gail made it a mission to discover these locations and the pioneer cemeteries nearby. Because of his extensive research, many notable scholars sought his help to learn in greater detail the story of the Saints of Winter Quarters and Iowa branches. Among them were Richard Bennett, Susan Easton Black, Marjorie Draper Conder, Gregory Franzwa, William Hartley, Myrtle Stevens Hyde, Stan Kimball, Michael Landon, Brandon Plewe, Larry C Porter, Elder Steven R. Snow, Maurine Card Ward, Fred E. Woods, and Shauna Anderson Young. Gail not only shared his knowledge but took many on tours of the area where they could have the experience of the “Spirit of the Place.”

“Winter Quarters Revisited: Untold Stories of the Seven-Year Stay of the Mormons in the Missouri Valley 1846-53,” C & I Printing, Omaha, 1985. “Old Council Bluff(s) Historical Tours,” Gail Holmes / Pioneer Research Library. 150th Anniversary Edition. Published by Pioneer Research Library, 21 Benton Street, Council Bluffs, IA “Old Council Bluff(s): Mormon Developments, 1846 -1853 in the Missouri Valleys of SW Iowa and E Nebraska,” writings of Gail Geo. Holmes, edited by Karen Larsen and published by the Omaha LDS Institute of Religion. August 2000. “Doors Opening Now to Old Council Bluff(s),” Gail Geo. Holmes Mormon Historic Sites Foundation Holmes, Gail Geo. (1988) "Mormons at Missouri, 1846-1852: “And Should We Die” Richard E. Bennett," BYU Studies Quarterly: Vol. 28: Iss. 3, Article 12. “The LDS Legacy in Southwestern Iowa” in the Ensign, August 1988. “The Chiefs of Council Bluffs: Five Leaders of the Missouri Valley Tribes,” Jun 26, 2012 by Gail Geo. Holmes and illustrations by Brent Fredrickson. “Silent Hills Speak: History of Council Bluffs by William E. Ramsey and Betty Dineen Shiver Guest Author, “Mormons and Migration Through Council Bluff(s), page 29 – 39. Barnhart Press, Published by the Council Bluffs Public Library Foundation: A Public Charity, 400 Willow Avenue, Council Bluffs, Iowa 51503, U.S.A. First published 2002 by the Council Bluffs, Library Foundation Library of Congress Number 2002108151. “Lion of the Lord,” Susan Easton Black and Larry C. Porter Contributing essay; Chapter 6, “A Prophet Who Followed, Fulfilled, and Magnified Brigham Young in Iowa,” Lion of the Lord “Encyclopedia of Mormonism” “Mapping Mormonism” Brandon Plewe Gail authored, “The Middle Missouri Valley, 1846 – 1853” Copyright C 2012 Brigham Young University. “The Middle Missouri Valley, 1846 – 1853” Copyright C 2012 Brigham Young University

Botna Valley Genealogical Soc: Member Cass Co Genealogical Soc: Member Cass Co Mormon Trails Assoc: Member Council Bluffs, Community Development: Member Douglas Co Historical Soc: Member Friends of Hitchcock House: Member Genealogical Society East Pottawattamie Co, IA: Member Glenwood Indian Earthlodge Soc: President Greater Omaha Genealogical Soc: Member Guthrie Co Genealogical Soc: Member Harrison Co Historical Soc: Member Historical Soc of Pottawattamie Co: Member Humanities Iowa: Member IA Humanities Board: Member IA Mormon Trails Assoc: Member. Iowa Sesquicentennial Commission 1976 Sesquicentennial Celebration Kanesville Restoration: President Lewis and Clark Heritage Foundation: NE Coordinator Mormon Historic Sites Foundation: Councilor National Advisory Council - Danish Immigrant Museum, Elk Horn, IA National Park Service: Member Nauvoo Restoration, Inc. NE Humanities Council – Speakers Bureau NE Mormon Trail Association: Board member NE State Historical Soc: advisor Nonpareil Council Bluffs Newspaper: Historical columns Old Council Bluffs Historical Recovery & Development Group: Advisor. Organized the “Mapping the Past” in coordination with county researchers Pioneer Family Heritage Group: Member Pioneer Heritage Soc: Historical advisor Pioneer Research Group/Historical Pioneer Research Group, Inc.: president, emeritus Early Latter-day Saint Database. Historian “Crossroads to the West” Florence Outfitting Site Monument Pottawattamie County Historic Trails Assoc: President Sarpy Co Historical Soc: Speaker State Historical Soc of IA State Historical Soc of IA Advisory Committee to the Western Historic Trails Center, Council Bluffs, IA: Member Tabor Historical Soc: member; Publicity. John Whitmer Historical Assoc: Presenter Western Historic Trails Center, Advisor to the Western Historic Trails Project Winter Quarters/Florence Mill, Inc.: Board member. Winter Quarters Temple, Advisor - building of Winter Quarters Temple,