10th Scripps National Spelling Bee
| 10th National Spelling Bee | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date | May 29, 1934 |
| Location | National Museum in Washington, D.C. |
| Winner | Sarah Wilson |
| Age | 12 |
| Residence | Maine |
| Sponsor | Portland Evening Express |
| Sponsor location | Portland, Maine |
| Winning word | brethren |
| No. of contestants | 19[1] |
| Preceded by | 9th Scripps National Spelling Bee |
| Followed by | 11th Scripps National Spelling Bee |
The 10th National Spelling Bee was held at the National Museum in Washington, D.C. on May 29, 1934. Scripps-Howard would not sponsor the Bee until 1941.
The winner was 12-year-old Sarah Wilson of Gray, Maine,[2] sponsored by the Portland Evening Express, correctly spelling the word brethren. She had also competed in the finals the prior year. James Wilson, age 13, of Canton, Illinois placed second after misspelling deteriorating, followed by Helen Sullivan, age 13, of Connecticut.[3][4]
The prizes for the top three were $500, $300, and $100. The bee was broadcast on the radio, and when Sarah was asked if she had a message for her father, she responded on air "You remember Daddy, you promised me another $500 if I won first place!" But she did say she wanted to use the money for college.[4][5]
As of 2016, Wilson has been the only winner from Maine.[6]
References
- ↑ Maine Girl Wins as Nation's Best Speller, Southeast Missourian (Associated Press)
- ↑ Garrett, Sarah A. [Wilson (1921-1998)], Town of Gray Maine website, Retrieved 2 July 2015
- ↑ (3 July 1999). Maine speller advances in national competition, Bangor Daily News
- 1 2 (8 June 1934). 12-Year-Old Girl Wins $1,000, Nunda News (Nunda, New York)
- ↑ Maguire, James. American Bee: The National Spelling Bee and the Culture of Word Nerds, p. 71 (2006)
- ↑ (31 May 2001). Speller, Bangor Daily News ("The last Mainer to win the national spelling bee was in 1934 when Sarah Wilson represented the Portland Evening Express.")