[2] The idea for the memorial was raised by members of the Minnesota League of Women Voters and a design competition was held.

[10] Colburn became active in the suffrage movement and, in 1858, delivered what is thought to be the first public lecture on the subject in Minnesota.

[11] In 1864, Colburn won a state-sponsored essay competition on the theme "Minnesota as a Home for Emigrants"; the letter notifying her of her prize addressed her as "sir".

Shortly afterward, Colburn wrote to a friend, "I am doing but little now on the suffrage question, for I will not stoop longer to ask of any congress or legislature for that which I know to be mine by the divine law of nature".

[12] After the passage of an amendment in 1875 allowing women to vote on issues related to state education, Colburn was elected school director in Champlin.

She served as chairman of the Minnesota chapter of the National Woman's Party and was arrested during the "Watchfire for Freedom" demonstrations of January 1919.

She helped to organize the Medical Women's Club of Minneapolis and the Minnesota Scandinavian Woman Suffrage Association, and served on the board of directors of the MWSA.

Hurd's also served as president for the Political Equality Club of Minneapolis and published a book titled Woman Suffrage in Minnesota: A Record of the Activities in Its Behalf Since 1847.

[18][19] Jaeger (1859–1938) was the president of the Political Equality Club of Minneapolis and the Minnesota Scandinavian Woman Suffrage Association.

[20] Moller (1888–unknown) served as secretary of the Minnesota branch of the National Woman's Party and demonstrated at the White House and the Capitol.

Notes (1854–1930) was an influential supporter of suffrage from St. Paul who helped found the Woman's Welfare League in 1912, and served as its first president.

Sanford (1836–1920) was a professor of history at Swarthmore College (1871–1880) and University of Minnesota (1880–1909) who joined the suffrage movement late in life.

She took part in a nationwide petition, carrying Minnesota's 20,000 signatures in favor of suffrage to the capitol in Washington D.C.[25] Swisshelm (1815–1884) was a St.

As a member of the MWSA, Wells (1872–1959) organized the petition drive that resulted in unanimous support from the Minnesota delegation for the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment.