The 3rd National Spelling Bee was held at the

National Museum A national museum is a museum maintained and funded by a national government. In many countries it denotes a museum run by the central government, while other museums are run by regional or local governments. In other countries a much greater numb ...

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

on June 23, 1927, hosted by the ''

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''.

Scripps-Howard The E. W. Scripps Company is an American broadcasting company founded in 1878 as a chain of daily newspapers by Edward Willis "E. W." Scripps and his sister, Ellen Browning Scripps. It was also formerly a media conglomerate. The company is he ...

would not sponsor the Bee until 1941. The winner was 13-year-old Dean Lucas of

West Salem, Ohio West Salem is a village in Wayne County, Ohio. The population was 1,464 at the time of the 2010 census. West Salem is served by a branch of the Wayne County Public Library. The noted drag racing track Dragway 42 is located nearby. History West ...

(some sources say nearby

Congress, Ohio Congress is a village in Wayne County, Ohio, United States. The population was 132 at the 2020 census. Congress was originally called Waynesburg, and under the latter name was laid out in 1827. Geography Congress is located at (40.925447, -82 ...

, where he attended school), with the word ''abrogate''.Dyer, Bob (27 May 2017)
Spelling bee misspells its own history
''

Akron Beacon Journal The ''Akron Beacon Journal'' is a morning newspaper in Akron, Ohio, United States. Owned by Gannett, it is the sole daily newspaper in Akron and is distributed throughout Northeast Ohio. The paper's coverage focuses on local news. The Beacon J ...

'' Ralph Keenan, 13, of

Waukon, Iowa Waukon is a city in Makee Township, Allamakee County, Iowa, United States, and the county seat of Allamakee County. The population was 3,827 at the time of the 2020 census. History Waukon is often said to be named for Waukon Decorah, a Ho Ch ...

placed second (misspelling "abrogate" as "abregate"), and Minerva Ressler, 12, of

Lancaster, Pennsylvania Lancaster, ( ; pdc, Lengeschder) is a city in and the county seat of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It is one of the oldest inland cities in the United States. With a population at the 2020 census of 58,039, it ranks 11th in population amon ...

was third.(24 June 1927).
Ohio Boy Wins Spelling Bee At Washington
''The Miami News''(6 July 1927)
Words
''Miami News'' (noting that Lucas hailed from Wayne County, Ohio)(15 July 1927)
"Abrogate"
''Milwaukee Sentinel'' It was Lucas' second appearance at the bee.(19 July 1927)
At Night He Studied Just Spelling(?)
''Emporia Gazette'' (subscription required) There were 17 contestants this year, 13 girls and 4 boys, between ages 10 and 15, and the bee lasted three hours. The first place prize was $1000, with $500 for second, and $250 for third.

References

{{Scripps National Spelling Bee 03 1927 in Washington, D.C. 1927 in education June 1927 events