1948

The 21st Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee took place on May 28th, 1948. It was held at the National Press Club Auditorium in Washington, D.C., and 40 spellers participated.

1948 champion Jean Chappelear held a penny for luck throughout the entire competition.

Learn more

About the 21st Bee

Champion

Jean Chappelear

Ravenna, Ohio

Jean Chappelear, age 14, sponsored by the Akron Beacon Journal, won the $500 prize by correctly spelling the word “psychiatry.”

Jean married and became Jean Ann Schlupe. She graduated from Ravenna High School in Ohio. She died in 2021. No image of this champion has been found on record.

Location

National Press Club Auditorium

Winning Word

psychiatry(n)

sih-KAHY-uh-tree

a branch of medicine that deals with the science and practice of treating mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders.

The first part of this word is originally Greek, and the second part is originally Latin.

OFFICIALS

Directors

Max B. Cook

Judges

  • William Harold Martin
  • Mrs. Wilford L. White
  • Dr. Belmont Farley

Pronouncers

  • Benson S. Alleman

SPELLER ROSTER

  • William Price Albercht, Jr
  • Gloria Backer
  • Marlene Bean
  • Phil Bohnert
  • Kim Calvin
  • Jean Chappelear
  • Dickie Crews
  • John Donnellan
  • Shirley June Dounty
  • Charlotte Eddings
  • Paul Eggum
  • Frances Essley
  • Darrell Flavelle
  • Marica Galler
  • Donald Keith Guthrie
  • Paul Thomas Hendon
  • Glenda Hendrson
  • Maynard Kiplinger Hine, Jr.
  • Mary Beth House
  • Sylvia Kellum
  • Wanda Lovett
  • Nancy MacLaren
  • June Martin
  • Deonne Martin
  • Nancy McDaniel
  • Charlotte Oswalt
  • Eugene Pattison
  • Naomi Perez
  • Estelle Rengo
  • Sandra Resen
  • Delford Richey
  • Judith Rodgers
  • Vincent Sarich
  • Rosemary Schirmer
  • Martin Tangora
  • Carolyn Thomas
  • Sara Tornay
  • Patricia M. Walker
  • Clark Weston
  • Kitty Wright

* Winner
** Runner-Up