| 16th Scripps National Spelling Bee | |
|---|---|
 1940 top three. Winner Kuykendall in the center, flanked by O'Keefe on her right (Hoboken placard), and Shea on her left (Nebraska). | |
| Date | May 28, 1940 |
| Location | Auditorium of the National Press Building, Washington, D.C.[1] |
| Winner | Laurel Kuykendall |
| Age | 14 |
| Residence | Pippin, near Cookeville, Tennessee[2] |
| Sponsor | Knoxville News Sentinel |
| Sponsor location | Knoxville, Tennessee |
| Winning word | therapy |
| No. of contestants | 22 |
| Pronouncer | Harold F. Harding[3] |
| Preceded by | 15th Scripps National Spelling Bee |
| Followed by | 17th Scripps National Spelling Bee |
The 16th National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C., on May 28, 1940. Scripps-Howard did not sponsor the Bee until the next year.
The winner was 14-year-old girl Laurel Kuykendall, correctly spelling the word therapy. Elizabeth O'Keefe, a 13-year-old girl from New Jersey, took second place after failing to correctly spell "plantain", followed by Eleanor Shea of Nebraska in third.[4]
There were 22 spellers this year, and the prizes were $500 for first, $200 for second, and $100 for third.[4][5][6][7]
Harold F. Harding of George Washington University was the pronouncer. He earned a round of applause when he slipped and spelled the word "fore" himself, instead of waiting for the speller to do so.[3]
- ^ Article, Louisville Courier-Journal ("The match is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday in the auditorium of the National Press Club. The Bee will not be broadcast.")
- ^ (16 July 1940). Spelling Champion Is Girl of 14 From Tennessee's Hills, Milwaukee Journal
- ^ a b (28 May 1940). Pronounces Word, Spells It Himself, Akron Beacon Journal (paywall) ("Harold F. Harding, of George Washington university, official pronouncer for the national spelling bee finals, got a round of applause today when he pronounced the word "fore", then spelled it himself instead of watting for the speller. He blamed "nervous strain" for the slip.")
- ^ a b (29 May 1940). Tennessee Girl Champ Speller, St. Petersburg Times (Associated Press)
- ^ (31 May 1940). National Spelling Bee Champ, Rome Daily Sentinel (photo)
- ^ (9 March 2011). And the Winner Is ..., Shorpy.com (1940 photo of top three)
- ^ (29 May 1940). Farm Girl Tops in Spelling Bee, Spokesman-Review (Associated Press)