Statue for Equality

Amelia Hatfield Witherstine

Amelia Hatfield Witherstine was a trailblazer in education and civic engagement in Rochester. Born in the late 19th century, she was the first woman elected to the Rochester School Board in 1911 and served as its president from 1914 to 1923. She was also the first woman to serve on an Olmsted County jury in the early 1920s.

Amelia’s contributions to education and her pioneering role in civic duties laid the groundwork for future generations of women leaders in Rochester. Her dedication to public service and education makes her a fitting subject for a statue that will inspire and educate the community.

Gillie and Marc

Founded by contemporary artists Gillie and Marc, Statues for Equality addresses gender and racial disparities in public art. The initiative aims to achieve gender parity in public sculptures, aiming for 50% representation of women. By creating bronze statues that celebrate the contributions of extraordinary women, the project honors their legacies and inspires future generations (as outlined in the attached proposal).

• Mayor Kim Norton and the City of Rochester, Minnesota
• Rochester Area Foundation
• Rotary Clubs of Rochester and Owatonna
• City of Rochester Parks and Recreation Department
• League of Women Voters, Rochester, Minnesota
• Anderson Memorials, Rochester, Minnesota
• History Center of Olmsted County
• Mayo Clinic
• Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council
• Greater Rochester Arts and Cultural Trust 
• Individual Donors

• GRACT (Greater Rochester Arts and Cultural Trust)
• History Center of Olmsted County

• Rochester Area Foundation