In celebration of Women’s History Month, Pillsbury United Communities is proud to recognize the significant contributions of women from all backgrounds. This week, we spotlight the historic milestones and accomplishments of women in Minnesota. Their stories of resilience, creativity, and leadership continue to inspire us all.
Lena O. Smith
1885 – 1966
Lena Smith made history in 1921 as the first Black woman to practice law in Minnesota. As the first female president of the Minneapolis NAACP, she led the charge against racial discrimination in the North, addressing housing, employment, and education issues.
Her pioneering work broke barriers for Black women in the legal profession and left a lasting impact on the fight for civil rights in the United States. “I’m used to doing the right thing without regard for myself,” Smith once said. “Of course, battles leave their scars, but I’m willing to make the sacrifice.”
Eloise Butler
1851 – 1933
Eloise Butler’s pioneering work in gardening lives on at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary in Theodore Wirth Park, the oldest public wildflower garden in the U.S. The garden offers a tranquil escape into nature.
Butler began her career as a botany teacher in the early 1900s. She would take her students to explore the wetlands and uplands of what was then called Glenwood Park.
In 1907, after advocating it, she and others successfully petitioned the Park Board to designate a small plot of land for the garden, which Butler cared for on a volunteer basis.
In 1929, the garden was officially named in her honor, solidifying her enduring legacy in horticulture.
Mee Moua
1969 – Present
In January 2002, Mee Moua made history as the first Asian woman elected to the Minnesota Legislature and the first Hmong American elected to any state legislature. Moua, a St. Paul lawyer, ran on a campaign platform focused on education, housing, the economy, and public safety.
As Minnesota has the largest Hmong population in the U.S., Mou’s victory in St. Paul’s District 67 had a profound political and cultural impact on the Hmong community, marking a milestone in representation and political involvement for Hmong Americans. She was re-elected twice, serving a total of nine years in the Minnesota Senate.
Today, Mou serves as the president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, which advocates for civic engagement for Asian Americans and other underserved communities.
Nellie Francis
1874 – 1969
At the turn of the 20th century, Nellie (Griswold) Francis emerged as an influential leader for civil rights in Minnesota. She made history as the only African American student to graduate from St. Paul High School in 1891 and was one of eight students chosen to deliver a graduation speech. In her address, Francis boldly asserted that the “race problem” was a construct of white Americans, who viewed Black citizens as dangerous rather than recognizing them as hard-working, peaceful, and patriotic—much less as equals.
This forward-thinking and fearless stance became a hallmark of her advocacy, which included the drafting of and lobbying for the adoption of a state anti-lynching bill that was signed into law in 1921, following the lynchings of three Black carnival workers in Duluth in 1920
Toni Stone
1921 – 1996
Toni Stone was a pioneering figure in the history of baseball, breaking gender and racial barriers in the sport. Born in 1921 in St. Paul’s historic Rondo neighborhood, Stone went on to become the first woman to play professional baseball in the Negro Leagues.
In 1953, she joined the Indianapolis Clowns, a team in the Negro American League, making her the first woman to compete in the league. Stone played second base and was known for her agility and strong arm.
In 1990, Stone was featured in the “Women in Baseball” and “Negro League Baseball” exhibits at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Three years later, she was inducted into the Women’s Sports Hall of Fame and the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame. Award-winning playwright Lydia R. Diamond also produced an off-Broadway play about her life.
Next Week: We’ll honor the the women of Pillsbury United Communities making history today.
