His journal was eventually translated and published in English in 1937 — a document that preserves specific observations of northern plains life from the perspective of a European artist with no professional stake in the fur trade and no particular political agenda about Native American peoples.

Kurz’s October 27, 1851 journal entry about his encounter with Woman Chief is one of the two most important primary sources for her life.

It is also one of the most carefully observed, because Kurz was an artist trained to look carefully at people and situations.

He described her as approximately forty-five years old, modest in manner, and good-natured.

These are specific observations, not generic characterizations.

Forty-five years old suggests he actually assessed her age with some care rather than simply guessing.