The 3rd National Spelling Bee was held at the

National Museum A national museum can be 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 the United States, most nati ...

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

, on June 23, 1927. It was hosted by the ''

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'';

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

would not sponsor the Bee until 1941. There were 17 contestants, 13 girls and 4 boys, between ages 10 and 15. The event lasted three hours. The first-place prize was $1000, with $500 for second place, and $250 for third. The winner was 13-year-old Dean Lucas of West Salem, Ohio (some sources say nearby Congress, Ohio, 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 Jo ...

'' It was his second appearance at the bee.(19 July 1927)
At Night He Studied Just Spelling(?)
''Emporia Gazette'' (subscription required) Ralph Keenan, 13, of

Waukon, Iowa Waukon is a city in Makee Township, Allamakee County, Iowa, Makee Township, Allamakee County, Iowa, Allamakee County, Iowa, United States, and the county seat of Allamakee County. The population was 3,827 at the time of the United States Census ...

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

Lancaster, Pennsylvania Lancaster ( ) is a city in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 58,039 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, eighth-most populous ci ...

, 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''

References

{{Scripps National Spelling Bee 03 1927 in Washington, D.C. 1927 in education June 1927 in the United States