| 13th National Spelling Bee | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date | May 25, 1937 |
| Location | National Museum in Washington, D.C. |
| Winner | Waneeta Beckley |
| Age | 14 |
| Residence | Kentucky |
| Sponsor | The Courier-Journal |
| Sponsor location | Louisville, Kentucky |
| Winning word | promiscuous |
| No. of contestants | 16 |
| Preceded by | 12th Scripps National Spelling Bee |
| Followed by | 14th Scripps National Spelling Bee |
The 13th National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the National Museum on May 25, 1937, and sponsored by the Louisville, Kentucky Courier-Journal. Scripps-Howard would not sponsor the Bee until 1941.
Sixteen spellers participated in the competition, held in the auditorium of the National Museum.[1] The winner was 14-year-old Waneeta Beckley of Kentucky, correctly spelling the word promiscuous. Second place went to Betty Grunstra, age 12 of New Jersey, who misspelled plebeian.[2] Third place went to 14-year-old Angelo Mangieri from Jersey City, New Jersey, the first blind person to reach the finals.[3]
Beckley won $500, Grunstra took home $300, and Mangieri received $100.[1][4]
- ^ a b (14 June 1937). Washington Spelling Bee, Life (magazine)
- ^ (27 May 1937). P-L-E-B-E-I-A-N Spells $500, Niagara Falls Gazette
- ^ (5 June 1937). Win National Spelling Bee, The Guardian (Little Rock, Arkansas)
- ^ (17 June 1937). Spelling Champ Wins $500 Prize, The Kalona News, p. 6