| 6th National Spelling Bee | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date | May 27, 1930 |
| Location | National Museum in Washington, D.C. |
| Winner | Helen Jensen |
| Age | 14 |
| Residence | Council Bluffs, Iowa |
| Sponsor | The Des Moines Register and Tribune |
| Sponsor location | Des Moines, Iowa |
| Winning word | albumen |
| No. of contestants | 24 |
| Pronouncer | Charles E. Hill and Stephen Kramer |
| Preceded by | 5th Scripps National Spelling Bee |
| Followed by | 7th Scripps National Spelling Bee |
The 6th National Spelling Bee was held at the National Museum in Washington, D.C., on May 27, 1930. Scripps-Howard would not sponsor the Bee until 1941.
The winner was 14-year-old Helen Jensen of Council Bluffs, Iowa, who correctly spelled the word albumen. Ruth Des Jardins of Michigan came in second after stumbling on "asceticism," followed by Mildred Froning of Indiana, who went out on "conflagration".
The final hour of the contest was broadcast on radio, starting at 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, by the National Broadcasting Company.
There were 24 contestants in this year's competition. The first-place winner received $1,000, while second place was awarded $500, and third place received $250.
References
- Note: Sources at the time vary on her age from 12 to 14, but public records appear to verify a February 1916 birthdate
- (26 May 1930). Spelling, Akron Beacon Journal
- Annual Report - United States National Museum (1930), p. 39 ("May 27, 11.30 a.m. (auditorium): The sixth annual national spelling bee.")
- (28 May 1930). Tall Corn Girl Wins National Spelling Bee, Pittsburgh Press (noting that the 2nd place winner missed "asceticism"; Jensen had to correctly spell that word and "albumen" to win).
- ^ (28 May 1930). Iowa Girl Wins National Spelling Bee In Capital, Lewiston Daily Sun
- (4 June 1930). Queen of Spellers, Southeast Missourian (photo of Jensen)
- (24 May 1930). Spelling Bee On Air, Reading Eagle (Associated Press)
- (28 May 1930). Iowa Girl, 12, Wins National Spelling Bee, Chicago Tribune (article includes a full list of spellers, their order out, and the word they missed)