1930

The 6th National Spelling Bee took place on May 27th, 1930. It was held at the National Museum Auditorium in Washington, D.C., and 24 spellers participated.

The final hour of the 1930 National Competition was broadcast live on the radio by NBC.

Learn more

About the 6th Bee

Champion

Helen Jensen

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Helen Jensen, age 14, sponsored by The Des Moines Register & Tribune, won the $1,000 prize by correctly spelling the word “albumen.”

Helen married and became Helen Heckendorn. She worked for the Santa Clara County Health Department for eight years. She died in 1993.

Location

National Museum Auditorium

Winning Word

albumen(n)

al-BYOO-men

the white of an egg.

This word is from Latin.

OFFICIALS

Directors

Donald McWain

Judges

  • Rev. Dr. James S. Montgomery
  • Bess Goodykoontz
  • Dr. Belmont Farley

Pronouncers

  • Dr. Charles E. Hill

SPELLER ROSTER

  • Agnes Bowers
  • Ida Cleghorn
  • Angeline de Lisa
  • Ruth Des Jardins
  • Elizabeth Doton
  • James Drummond
  • Dorothy Everett
  • Virginia Falciola
  • Ruth Fortier
  • Mildred Froning
  • Lillian Gasko
  • Marion Heald
  • Vera Isaacson
  • Helen Jensen
  • David Laughlin
  • Francis McCann
  • Maynard Palmer
  • Fannie Mae Schwab
  • Ruth Smith
  • Wilma Snyder
  • Randall Staples
  • James Vanness
  • Ruby Vanvactor
  • Winfield Yarnell

* Winner
** Runner-Up