13th Scripps National Spelling Bee

13th National Spelling Bee
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DateMay 25, 1937
LocationNational Museum in Washington, D.C.
WinnerWaneeta Beckley
Age14
ResidenceKentucky
SponsorThe Courier-Journal
Sponsor locationLouisville, Kentucky
Winning wordpromiscuous
No. of contestants16
Preceded by12th Scripps National Spelling Bee
Followed by14th 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]

  1. ^ a b (14 June 1937). Washington Spelling Bee, Life (magazine)
  2. ^ (27 May 1937). P-L-E-B-E-I-A-N Spells $500, Niagara Falls Gazette
  3. ^ (5 June 1937). Win National Spelling Bee, The Guardian (Little Rock, Arkansas)
  4. ^ (17 June 1937). Spelling Champ Wins $500 Prize, The Kalona News, p. 6