1926

The 2nd National Spelling Bee took place on June 17th, 1926. It was held at the National Museum Auditorium in Washington, D.C., and 25 spellers participated.

All 25 spellers in this year’s National Competition had the chance to meet President Calvin Coolidge following the competition.

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About the 2nd Bee

Champion

Pauline Bell

Clarkson, Kentucky

Pauline Bell, age 13, sponsored by the Louisville Courier-Journal, won the $1,000 prize by correctly spelling the word “cerise.”

Pauline became a teacher in her hometown, then later worked for the Kentucky Department of Human Resources, Bureau of Social Insurance, for 30 years. She retired in 1978 and died in 2010.

Location

National Museum Auditorium

Winning Word

cerise(n)

suh-REES

a moderate red color.

This word is from French.

OFFICIALS

Directors

Mary McSkimmon

Pronouncers

  • Dr. George S. Wills

SPELLER ROSTER

  • Ruth Adams
  • Vivian Barmer
  • Pauline Bell
  • Harriet Blumberg
  • Dorothy Casey
  • Thomas Chegwidden
  • J. Connors, Jr.
  • Paul Diller
  • Louis Efrid
  • Dora Farland
  • Mary Floyd
  • Royce Fowler
  • Elizabeth Glastetter
  • Leo Goldberg
  • Martha Louise Hall
  • Frances Kraus
  • Dean Lucas
  • Janice McCartney
  • Janet Miller
  • Samuel Raymond
  • Imogene Reynolds
  • Betty Robinson
  • Herbert Stem
  • Sarah Louise Van Allen
  • Marian Welch

* Winner
** Runner-Up