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. 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.(27 May 1937). P-L-E-B-E-I-A-N Spells $500, Niagara Falls Gazette Third place went to 14-year-old Angelo Mangieri from Jersey City, New Jersey, the first blind person to reach the finals.(5 June 1937). Win National Spelling Bee, The Guardian (Little Rock, Arkansas)
Beckley won $500, Grunstra took home $300, and Mangieri received $100.(14 June 1937). Washington Spelling Bee, Life (magazine)(17 June 1937). Spelling Champ Wins $500 Prize, The Kalona News, p. 6
See also List of Scripps National Spelling Bee champions
References