To celebrate the bicentennial of America’s first dictionary, Merriam-Webster is conducting a year-long nationwide speaking tour entitled Dictionaries and Democracy: 200 Years of Dictionary Making in America, hosted by the company’s president and publisher, John M. Morse. In addition, Merriam-Webster’s Spell-a-Thon, spelling bees for teams or individuals encompassing three different skill levels (junior for ages 8-10, intermediate for ages 11-14, and adult for ages 15 and up), will take place throughout the year in various schools, libraries, and bookstores across the country.

For more information on these events, please contact your account representative or Arthur Bicknell, Senior Publicist, at (413) 734-3134 ext. 119 or by e-mail: abicknell@Merriam-Webster.com.