1952

The 25th Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee took place on May 22nd, 1952. It was held at the Department of Commerce Auditorium in Washington, D.C., and 51 spellers participated.

1952 champion Doris Ann Hall was the first speller to make an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show following her win.

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About the 25th Bee

Champion

Doris Ann Hall

Hudson, North Carolina

Doris Ann Hall, age 13, sponsored by the Winston-Salem Journal, won the $500 prize by correctly spelling the word “vignette.”

Doris married and became Doris Ann McClanahan. She became a certified public accountant in Hickory, North Carolina. No image of this champion has been found on record.

Location

Department of Commerce Auditorium

Winning Word

vignette(n)

vin-YET

a short literary sketch chiefly descriptive and characterized usually by wit and subtlety.

This word was formed in French from Latin-derived elements.

OFFICIALS

Directors

Charles Schneider

Judges

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

Pronouncers

  • Benson S. Alleman

SPELLER ROSTER

  • Fronia Alexander
  • Judy Austin
  • Odetta Ball
  • Jean Ballagh
  • Raela Jean Blau
  • Barbara Buxton
  • John Chuchel
  • John Owen Clark, Jr.
  • Hannah Beatrice Connor
  • Shirley Jean Dennis
  • Donald Doig
  • Frances Ferrell
  • Marjorie Foliart
  • Freddy Giusti
  • Richard Goddard
  • Curtis Griffith
  • Doris Ann Hall
  • Nancy Ann Hammerschmidt
  • Louise Hatfield
  • Amelia Herrera
  • Dean Hickman
  • David Hudson
  • Wilma Ingraham
  • Phyllis Kmiec
  • Beth Knope
  • Stephen Litchtenbaum
  • James Lodwick
  • Richard Mayer
  • Patricia McManus
  • Christine Miscichowski
  • Raymond A. Moseley, Jr.
  • Dick Murphy
  • Maureen O’Keefe
  • Shelley Palay
  • Carlene Ann Perry
  • Gene Profant
  • Shirlene Rogers
  • Ronald Rountree
  • Mary Runyan
  • Mary Ellen Rusk
  • Sharon Schultz
  • Mary Ellen Shaughnessy
  • Raymond Sokolov
  • Margaret Stevenson
  • Nancy Terwilliger
  • John Tripp
  • Hilda Walker
  • Pete Wert
  • Ramona Whetzel
  • John Woods
  • Lloyd Young

* Winner
** Runner-Up