| 12th National Spelling Bee | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date | May 26, 1936 |
| Location | National Museum in Washington, D.C. |
| Winner | Jean Trowbridge |
| Age | 13 |
| Residence | Stuart, Iowa |
| Sponsor | The Des Moines Register and Tribune |
| Sponsor location | Des Moines, Iowa |
| Winning word | eczema |
| No. of contestants | 17 |
| Pronouncer | H.E. Warner and Harold F. Harding[1] |
| Preceded by | 11th Scripps National Spelling Bee |
| Followed by | 13th Scripps National Spelling Bee |
The 12th National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C., on May 26, 1936, at the National Museum. Scripps-Howard did not sponsor the Bee until 1941.
The winner was Jean Trowbridge, age 13, of Stuart, Iowa,[2] with the word eczema. Thirteen-year-old Bruce Ackerman, of Tazewell County, Illinois, who took 3rd the prior year, came in second. Catherine Davis, 13, of Indiana took third, falling on "shrieking".[3][4]
In the final rounds, Trowbridge was first disqualified for "numskull", which Ackerman then spelled as "numbskull" followed by "gnome" for the apparent win. The judges then realized that "numskull" was an acceptable spelling, and the contest continued. Ackerman misspelled "predilection" a few words later, which Trowbridge spelled correctly followed by "eczema" for the win.[4]
The final hour of the competition was broadcast on radio on the Columbia broadcasting system.[5]
As of 2014, winner Jean Trowbridge (married name Tyler) was living in Grand Junction, Colorado.[6]
- ^ (19 May 1936). Article, Courier-Journal ("Alternating as pronouncers will be Dr. H.E. Warner and Prof. H.F. Harding.")
- ^ Journal of the Iowa Senate 1937, p. 798 (confirms Trowbridge is from Stuart, Iowa)
- ^ (30 May 1936). Best Speller Stumbles over Word Nemesis, The Afro American
- ^ a b (27 May 1936). Dictionaries Help Crown Iowa Girl Spelling Champ, Daily Illini
- ^ (23 May 1936). Portland Boy Entrant in Nat'l Spelling Bee, Lewistown Daily Sun
- ^ (9 January 2014). Betty Trowbridge = Obituary, Grand Junction Daily Sentinel