Alta Cunningham

Born 22 Nov. 1889; died 16 June 1977, age 87 years. Buried in Edgewood Cemetery.
February 4, 1910 Greenville News: engaged as saleswoman for W.M. Ballenger and Company.
March 1, 1910 Greenville News: moved from Ballenger to T.E. Smith to become Assistant Milliner to the Head Milliner, Miss Grace Shiver. Over the next several years there are annual newspaper entries regarding the "spring millinery openings" in which all of the local stores with millinery shops unveil their annual wares. Alta is listed with Grace as being in charge of T.E. Smith's millinery department for the openings over the next several years.
August 12, 1910 Greenville News: The YWCA was organized on July 10 and held a promotion and fundraising program on August 14. In that program, Alta Cunningham participated in a debate on the topic "Resolved that women of the world do more and better church work than the women did thirty years ago." Alta argued in the affirmative.
September 2, 1910 Greenville News: Alta was elected president of the Young Women's Auxiliary to fill the unexpired term of Miss Lydia Greene, resigned.
September 28, 1911 Greenville News: Alta and Grace Shiver are still in charge of millinery for T.E. Smith.
August 16, 1912 Greenville News: Alta went with Mr. and Mrs. T.E. Smith to the "northern markets" to purchase a fall and winter line of dry goods, notions, and millinery.
February 14, 1913 Greenville News: the three of them made a similar trip to New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore for spring and summer goods.
March 28, 1915 Greenville News: this year's millinery opening at T.E. Smith is run by Alta with Miss Thalia Dillard.
August 8, 1915 Greenville News: Alta traveled by herself to Baltimore to buy fall and winter millinery.
August 13, 1916 Greenville News: Alta traveled with T.E. Smith and Mrs. J. Marvin McHugh for an extended business trip north.
March 25, 1917 Greenville News: At this point TE Smith has become the largest general store in Greenville County — outside of Greenville City. It was the third "digression" of the Smith & Mayfield Company which was located on the opposite side of Trade Street; then O.P. and T.E. Smith, and then TE Smith became the sole owner. In 1914 a "jobbing department store" was added. T.E. Smith himself was mayor of Greer at this time. Alta is listed as the buyer for millinery.
August 12, 1917 Greenville News: Alta traveled again with T.E. Smith and Mrs. J.M. McHugh.
February 4, 1918 Greenville News: The same group is traveling again. This adds the names of J. Terry Wood and Miss Eunice Green, who were doing the same type of shopping for J. Terry Wood's store.
December 18, 1918 Columbia State: Alta comes to visit her mother. The report is that she has been milliner for a large millinery store at Concord, NC. It's unclear how this is compatible with her simultaneous work for TE Smith.
July 4, 1921 Columbia State: Alta's story takes a bizarre turn here. On June 25, 1921, Alta Cunningham was married to Albert A. Goldke of Waukegan, Illinois in his home town. This is confirmed as "our" Alta when the article states "Mrs. Goldke is the eldest daughter of Minnie Cunningham of Greer." In recent years the "young lady of unusual ability" had held responsible positions in Denver and Chicago. Mr. Goldke, a "prominent businessman" in Waukegan, had fought in the Navy in the Great War. The Goldke's would make their home in Waukegan.
June 29, 1924 Columbia State: Miss Alta Cunningham of Chicago is visiting her mother in Greer.
July 1, 1924 Greenville News: Alta is back visiting her mother, and "will remain in Greer for some time."
August 9, 1925 Greenville News: Alta went to New York with Mrs. Marvin McHugh and Belle and Sallie King. It's unknown what company they represented; Mrs. McHugh had previously traveled with Alta and TE Smith. Regardless, this indicates that Alta had returned to her prior line of work.
February 6, 1927 Greenville News: Alta has just returned from a 2-week visit to New York with Mrs. W.K. Hill and Miss Cora Howell. This implies that Alta was working for the W.K. Hill store.