- Source: 9th Scripps National Spelling Bee
- 9th Scripps National Spelling Bee
- List of Scripps National Spelling Bee champions
- 8th Scripps National Spelling Bee
- 95th Scripps National Spelling Bee
- 10th Scripps National Spelling Bee
- 40th Scripps National Spelling Bee
- 1st Scripps National Spelling Bee
- 88th Scripps National Spelling Bee
- 90th Scripps National Spelling Bee
- 67th Scripps National Spelling Bee
The 9th National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C., on May 30, 1933, organized by the Louisville Courier-Journal. Scripps-Howard would not sponsor the Bee until 1941.
The winner was 12-year-old Alma Roach of Twinsburg, Ohio, sponsored by the Akron Beacon Journal, correctly spelling the word torsion. George Meltzer (age 14) of New Jersey placed second (missing propitiatory), followed by 13-year-old Virginia Wood in third (missing holocaust).
Roach won $500 for first place (a drop from the usual $1000), followed by $300 for second, and $100 for third.
The event was broadcast on radio.
Roach (married name Mercer) became a teacher, retiring from Solon Middle School in her hometown of Twinsburg in 1983. She died at Akron General Hospital on July 31, 2003.