13th Scripps National Spelling Bee  The 13th National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the National Museum on May 25, 1937, and sponsored by the Louisville, Kentucky "Courier-Journal". Scripps-Howard would not sponsor the Bee until 1941. Sixteen spellers participated in the competition, held in the auditorium of the National Museum. The winner was 14-year-old Waneeta Beckley of Kentucky, correctly spelling the word "promiscuous". Second place went to Betty Grunstra, age 12 of New Jersey, who misspelled "plebeian". Third place went to 14-year-old Angelo Mangieri from Jersey City, New Jersey, the first blind person to reach the finals. Beckley won $500, Grunstra took home $300, and Mangieri received $100.