Jailed for her activism while picketing the White House in 1918 and 1919, Colvin later wrote her autobiography about the suffrage movement and her nursing career.

[1][2] Her mother was descended of Lieutenant Philip Lightfoot, who served in Harrison's Continental Artillery Regiment of Virginia, during the American Revolution.

[4] When the war concluded, the family resided with Tarlton's paternal grandparents in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, where her brother, Robert Jr. was born.

[2][5] After completing her education and over her family's objections, Tarleton accepted the position as head nurse at Johns Hopkins for six months.

[2] She worked on the board of the Deaconess Home from their arrival in 1897[6] and in 1906 was chosen as the founding president of the Minnesota State Graduate Nurses' Association.

[18][19] Once women secured the vote, she joined the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party, working to educate people on the issues[17] and press for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment.