1939

The 15th National Spelling Bee took place on May 29th, 1939. It was held at the National Museum Auditorium in Washington, D.C., and 21 spellers participated.

Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Rice took up running in her fifties, and she ran the Boston Marathon three times.

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About the 15th Bee

Champion

Elizabeth Ann Rice

Auburn, Massachusetts

Elizabeth Ann Rice, age 12, sponsored by the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, won the $500 prize by correctly spelling the word “canonical.”

Elizabeth married and became Elizabeth Ann Riza. She ran the Boston Marathon three times and worked as an office manager and business manager. She died in 2012.

Location

National Museum Auditorium

Winning Word

canonical(adj)

kuh-NAHN-ih-kul

accorded wide acceptance : sanctioned : orthodox : authoritative.

This word is from a word that went from Greek to Latin plus English combining forms.

OFFICIALS

Directors

Douglas D. Cornette

Judges

  • John H. Lloyd
  • Mrs. Wilford L. White
  • Dr. Belmont Farley

Pronouncers

  • Harold F. Harding

SPELLER ROSTER

  • Maureen Cluskey
  • Humphrey Cook
  • Carolyn Cooper
  • Betty Flood
  • Martha Gray
  • Rosemary Haas
  • Oliver Haeffner
  • Mildred Kariher
  • Mary Virginia Logan
  • Jane McCall
  • Therese O’Brien
  • Dorothy Perkins
  • Josephine Polli
  • Junie Ratliff
  • Elizabeth Ann Rice
  • Norman Riley
  • Juanita Routh
  • Betty Saum
  • Janie Saunders
  • Hildegarde Wedding
  • William Wiegand

* Winner
** Runner-Up