Wilbur G. Kurtz, Sr. (28 February 1882 - 1 February 1967) was born in Oakland, Illinois, raised in Greencastle, Indiana and attended DePauw University and the Art Institute of Chicago. His parents were George H. Kurtz (1844 October - 1903) and Amanda Helen Baum Kurtz (27 September 1847 - 8 March 1828) and he was the youngest of three children. While living in Chicago, Illinois, Kurtz worked as a draftsman, engraver, and professional illustrator. In 1903, he traveled south to Atlanta, Georgia to interview Captain William H. Fuller (15 April 1836 - 28 December 1905) regarding his involvement in Andrews' Raid. During one of his visits with Captain Fuller he met his future wife, Annie Laurie Fuller (21 October 1884 - 2 October 1946). Kurtz married Annie Laurie on June 14, 1911 at the summer home of the bride's mother. The couple briefly lived in Indiana before permanently relocating to Atlanta, Georgia in 1912, so Wilbur could pursue his research pertaining to the events of the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. After Annie Laurie's death, Kurtz married Annie Rachel Pye (1895-1985) of Woodland, Georgia in 1949. Kurtz and Annie Laurie had five children: Wilbur G. Kurtz, Jr. (1912-1991); Nelle Louise Kurtz Fambrough (1913-2000); Henry Harrison Kurtz (1916-1988); Annie Laurie Kurtz (1921-?); and Eugene Allen Kurtz (1923-2006).

Wilbur G. Kurtz, Sr. (28 February 1882 - 1 February 1967) was born in Oakland, Illinois, raised in Greencastle, Indiana and attended DePauw University and the Art Institute of Chicago. His parents were George H. Kurtz (1844 October - 1903) and Amanda Helen Baum Kurtz (27 September 1847 - 8 March 1828) and he was the youngest of three children. While living in Chicago, Illinois, Kurtz worked as a draftsman, engraver, and professional illustrator. In 1903, he traveled south to Atlanta, Georgia to interview Captain William H. Fuller (15 April 1836 - 28 December 1905) regarding his involvement in Andrews' Raid. During one of his visits with Captain Fuller he met his future wife, Annie Laurie Fuller (21 October 1884 - 2 October 1946). Kurtz married Annie Laurie on June 14, 1911 at the summer home of the bride's mother. The couple briefly lived in Indiana before permanently relocating to Atlanta, Georgia in 1912, so Wilbur could pursue his research pertaining to the events of the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. After Annie Laurie's death, Kurtz married Annie Rachel Pye (1895-1985) of Woodland, Georgia in 1949. Kurtz and Annie Laurie had five children: Wilbur G. Kurtz, Jr. (1912-1991); Nelle Louise Kurtz Fambrough (1913-2000); Henry Harrison Kurtz (1916-1988); Annie Laurie Kurtz (1921-?); and Eugene Allen Kurtz (1923-2006).

After his move to Atlanta, Kurtz's professional career followed a variety of paths but some of the most significant and memorable involved his work with the filming of Gone With the Wind, 1938-1939, and the Georgia Historical Marker program in the 1950s. Selznick International Pictures hired him as historian and technical advisor for Gone With the Wind due to his association with Margaret Mitchell and his knowledge of the Battle of Atlanta. Kurtz and his wife, Annie Laurie, lived in Culver City, California during the production of the film to provide onsite advice during filming, conduct research, and design sets and props. He also served as technical advisor for two other films: Song of the South, 1946, based on a series of stories written by Atlantan Joel Chandler Harris; and The Great Locomotive Chase, 1957, based on Kurtz's primary research topic, Andrews' Raid. In the early 1950s, the Georgia Historical Commission contracted with him to research and write the text for a series of historical markers, primarily in the region where the Atlanta Campaign took place. He also played a key role in the 1934-1936 restoration of the Cyclorama of the Battle of Atlanta as an employee of the art project division of the Works Projects Administration (WPA). Kurtz also created illustrations for the Atlanta Journal and Atlanta Constitution, as well as magazine articles, murals and paintings for commercial buildings, and private commissions primarily for paintings depicting Southern historical events.

After his move to Atlanta, Kurtz's professional career followed a variety of paths but someof the most significant and memorable involved his work with the filming of Gone With the Wind, 1938-1939, and the Georgia Historical Marker program in the 1950s. Selznick International Pictures hired him as historian and technical advisor for Gone With the Wind due to his association with Margaret Mitchell and his knowledge of the Battle of Atlanta. Kurtz and his wife, Annie Laurie, lived in Culver City, California during the production of the film to provide onsite advice during filming, conduct research, and design sets and props. He also served as technical advisor for two other films: Song of the South, 1946, based on a series of stories written by Atlantan Joel Chandler Harris; and The Great Locomotive Chase, 1957, based on Kurtz's primary research topic, Andrews' Raid. In the early 1950s, the Georgia Historical Commission contracted with him to research and write the text for a series of historical markers, primarily in the region where the Atlanta Campaign took place. He also played a key role in the 1934-1936 restoration of the Cyclorama of the Battle of Atlanta as an employee of the art project division of the Works Projects Administration (WPA). Kurtz also created illustrations for the Atlanta Journal and Atlanta Constitution, as well as magazine articles, murals and paintings for commercial buildings, and private commissions primarily for paintings depicting Southern historical events.