29:
185:
In the final rounds, Trowbridge was first disqualified for "numskull", which
Ackerman then spelled as "numbskull" followed by "gnome" for the apparent win. The judges then realized that "numskull" was an acceptable spelling, and the contest continued. Ackerman misspelled "predilection" a few words
232:
being a Greek goddess of retribution). The chairman explained that the word was in frequent use as a common noun, and that the definition he'd given Cox was "fate". He appealed to the judges, who agreed and ruled against Cox. According to "family lore" and subsequent speculation, Cox lost as the
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223:
with the other spellers. Cox and her mother were also placed at a separate table at the contestants' banquet. Cox's schoolteacher and newspaper sponsor representative, who were both white, engaged in what the
212:, were the first African-American children to compete as finalists in the National Spelling Bee. Cox placed 5th after misspelling "nemesis" and Kenny, after missing "appellation", placed 7th.
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244:, a book of poems written as if from the perspective of different people in Cox's life, imagining her as a brilliant but tragic figure crushed by racism. Inspired by Jordan's book,
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Carole Boston
Weatherford (2000-02-28). "Pokemon phenom harbors racist image; Jynx character is a stereotype comparable to Little Black Sambo".
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182:, who took 3rd the prior year, came in second. Catherine Davis, 13, of Indiana took third, falling on "shrieking".
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described as a "long and heated argument", contending that "nemesis" was a proper noun (
542:"Children's book shares triumph and tragedy of 1936 Akron spelling champ MacNolia Cox"
215:
Due to segregation, Cox had to move into a black-only train car when she crossed into
1126:
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result of racism, although such claims were denied at the time and remain unproven.
208:
MacNolia Cox, a 13-year-old girl from Akron, and
Elizabeth Kenny, a 15-year-old from
171:
77:
526:
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293:("Alternating as pronouncers will be Dr. H.E. Warner and Prof. H.F. Harding.")
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later, which
Trowbridge spelled correctly followed by "eczema" for the win.
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196:
As of 2014, winner Jean
Trowbridge (married name Tyler) was living in
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When one path narrowed, she took another to life as blues pianist
257:
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The final hour of the competition was broadcast on radio on the
564:
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264:, published a children's picture book about Cox titled
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Ohio and
Tennessee Select Girls for Spelling Contest
305:, p. 798 (confirms Trowbridge is from Stuart, Iowa)
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35:
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338:Dictionaries Help Crown Iowa Girl Spelling Champ
260:was racist and "an obese drag queen" version of
16:Spelling bee held in the United States in 1936
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8:
410:(memories of Akron reporter of 1935 contest)
170:The winner was Jean Trowbridge, age 13, of
1133:Scripps National Spelling Bee competitions
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452:
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354:Portland Boy Entrant in Nat'l Spelling Bee
332:
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27:
402:Chesley, Mabel Norris (1 November 1975).
1112:Scripps National Spelling Bee champions
421:Best Speller Stumbles over Word Nemesis
319:Best Speller Stumbles over Word Nemesis
278:
178:. Thirteen-year-old Bruce Ackerman, of
18:
7:
525:. September 25, 2008. Archived from
167:did not sponsor the Bee until 1941.
437:Hildebrand, Lee (5 December 2006).
89:The Des Moines Register and Tribune
144:13th Scripps National Spelling Bee
134:11th Scripps National Spelling Bee
14:
386:Halpin, Mary Rita (18 May 1936).
125:H.E. Warner and Harold F. Harding
248:, a writer and critic known for
219:, and was unable to stay at the
523:"Politically Incorrect Pokemon"
474:Romain, Michael (20 May 2015).
458:A. Van Jordan combines the ...
456:Hirsch, Edward (13 June 2004).
303:Journal of the Iowa Senate 1937
1:
592:Scripps National Spelling Bee
408:Daytona Beach Morning Journal
375:Grand Junction Daily Sentinel
511:. Crain Communications, Inc.
191:Columbia broadcasting system
476:The tragedy of MacNolia Cox
370:Betty Trowbridge = Obituary
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159:, on May 26, 1936, at the
153:12th National Spelling Bee
22:12th National Spelling Bee
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246:Carole Boston Weatherford
180:Tazewell County, Illinois
26:
1143:1936 in Washington, D.C.
404:Spelling Bee A Big Event
267:How Do You Spell Unfair?
198:Grand Junction, Colorado
443:San Francisco Chronicle
226:Baltimore Afro-American
210:Plainfield, New Jersey
204:First Black finalists
546:Akron Beacon Journal
250:controversial claims
463:The Washington Post
392:Nassau Daily Review
358:Lewistown Daily Sun
368:(9 January 2014).
262:Little Black Sambo
114:No. of contestants
1138:1936 in education
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426:The Afro-American
323:The Afro American
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174:, with the word
157:Washington, D.C.
100:Des Moines, Iowa
96:Sponsor location
52:Washington, D.C.
31:
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1148:May 1936 events
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540:Price, Mark J.
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508:Advertising Age
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419:(30 May 1936).
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352:(23 May 1936).
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291:Courier-Journal
285:(19 May 1936).
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242:M-A-C-N-O-L-I-A
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161:National Museum
61:Jean Trowbridge
48:National Museum
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529:on 2008-09-25.
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489:Poetic Justice
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495:(Spring 2006)
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493:UNCG Research
490:
487:Olson, Sean.
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481:
478:, OakPark.com
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238:A. Van Jordan
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221:Willard Hotel
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594:competitions
549:. Retrieved
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527:the original
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342:Daily Illini
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172:Stuart, Iowa
169:
155:was held in
152:
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106:Winning word
87:
78:Stuart, Iowa
39:May 26, 1936
1099:2024 (96th)
1094:2023 (95th)
1089:2022 (94th)
1084:2021 (93rd)
1074:2019 (92nd)
1069:2018 (91st)
1064:2017 (90th)
1059:2016 (89th)
1054:2015 (88th)
1049:2014 (87th)
1044:2013 (86th)
1039:2012 (85th)
1034:2011 (84th)
1029:2010 (83rd)
1024:2009 (82nd)
1019:2008 (81st)
1014:2007 (80th)
1009:2006 (79th)
1004:2005 (78th)
999:2004 (77th)
994:2003 (76th)
989:2002 (75th)
984:2001 (74th)
979:2000 (73rd)
974:1999 (72nd)
969:1998 (71st)
964:1997 (70th)
959:1996 (69th)
954:1995 (68th)
949:1994 (67th)
944:1993 (66th)
939:1992 (65th)
934:1991 (64th)
929:1990 (63rd)
924:1989 (62nd)
919:1988 (61st)
914:1987 (60th)
909:1986 (59th)
904:1985 (58th)
899:1984 (57th)
894:1983 (56th)
889:1982 (55th)
884:1981 (54th)
879:1980 (53rd)
874:1979 (52nd)
869:1978 (51st)
864:1977 (50th)
859:1976 (49th)
854:1975 (48th)
849:1974 (47th)
844:1973 (46th)
839:1972 (45th)
834:1971 (44th)
829:1970 (43rd)
824:1969 (42nd)
819:1968 (41st)
814:1967 (40th)
809:1966 (39th)
804:1965 (38th)
799:1964 (37th)
794:1963 (36th)
789:1962 (35th)
784:1961 (34th)
779:1960 (33rd)
774:1959 (32nd)
769:1958 (31st)
764:1957 (30th)
759:1956 (29th)
754:1955 (28th)
749:1954 (27th)
744:1953 (26th)
739:1952 (25th)
734:1951 (24th)
729:1950 (23rd)
724:1949 (22nd)
719:1948 (21st)
714:1947 (20th)
709:1946 (19th)
689:1942 (18th)
684:1941 (17th)
679:1940 (16th)
674:1939 (15th)
669:1938 (14th)
664:1937 (13th)
659:1936 (12th)
654:1935 (11th)
649:1934 (10th)
140:Followed by
130:Preceded by
1127:Categories
644:1933 (9th)
639:1932 (8th)
634:1931 (7th)
629:1930 (6th)
624:1929 (5th)
619:1928 (4th)
614:1927 (3rd)
609:1926 (2nd)
604:1925 (1st)
551:2023-07-09
274:References
256:character
240:published
122:Pronouncer
270:in 2023.
74:Residence
217:Maryland
44:Location
287:Article
254:Pokémon
230:Nemesis
84:Sponsor
176:eczema
109:eczema
58:Winner
252:that
1079:2020
704:1945
699:1944
694:1943
258:Jynx
151:The
36:Date
66:Age
50:in
1129::
544:.
491:,
460:,
449:^
441:,
423:,
406:,
390:,
372:,
356:,
340:,
329:^
321:,
310:^
289:,
200:.
193:.
163:.
117:17
69:13
584:e
577:t
570:v
554:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
