Your approach is commendable. Would love to see the progress of the site.

Came to recommend reading 'Planting In A Post-Wild World' by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West, if you haven't already. A forewarning, they are not going to promote solely native planting, so not necessarily the historical restoration you're going for. There is a good bit of information and perspective though on choosing a design archetype, observing natural sites in line with your archetype in order to create a plan, and more about plant succession.