Alta May Carpenter (June 8, 1878 - 1945) worked as one of the Women Astronomical Computers at the Harvard College Observatory from 1906 until 1920.

While at the Observatory, Carpenter was one of Annie Jump Cannon’s assistants. She worked to ascertain the position and magnitude of stars, record Cannon’s classifications from the Glass Plates, and proofread for the Henry Draper Catalogue’s publication. In this, she worked with Louisa Wells, Mabel Stevens, Edith Gill, and Eveland Leland, among others.¹

Carpenter was born June 8, 1878 in Whitingham, Vermont to Whitman and Lydia Carpenter (neé Winters).² Sometime between 1880 and 1900, Carpenter’s father passed away. By 1900, Alta was living with her mother and teaching, and her siblings, two brothers and a sister, had moved out of the family home.³ Her sister Florence had moved to Somerville and was working as a Stenographer.⁴ By 1910, Alta was living with her sister on Oxford street in Cambridge, and she was working at the Observatory.⁵ She continued to work at the Observatory until 1920, when she left and married Howard F Goodrich of Haverhill Mass.⁶ He was a widower, and worked as a Cemetery Superintendent.⁷ She lived in Haverhill until her death in 1945. She and her husband are interred at Linwood Cemetery in Haverhill. ⁸

Written by Samantha Notick, May 2023

Carpenter used several terms to describe her profession on federal and city documents. On the Federal Censuses in 1910 and 1920, she referred to herself as “Computer”. However, in nearly all city directories between those years, she utilized “Asst. at H U Observatory” or, Assistant at Harvard College Observatory.
For questions on any particular Women Astronomical Computer’s titles please consult their bio page. If no terminology information is listed, feel free to email us!

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