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- Barbie Doll Dressed in "Busy Girl" Outfit, 1960-1961 - Mattel's Ruth Handler noticed that her daughter Barbara preferred to play make-believe with paper dolls of adult women, rather than baby dolls. Inspired, Ruth created Barbie--named after her daughter--in 1959. A fashion model doll with a great wardrobe and interesting accessories, Barbie let young girls imagine a future of teenage freedom. Barbie's cultural impact was huge--sales of baby dolls declined. By 1965, Mattel was a Fortune 500 company.
- 1960-1961
- Collections - Artifact
Barbie Doll Dressed in "Busy Girl" Outfit, 1960-1961
Mattel's Ruth Handler noticed that her daughter Barbara preferred to play make-believe with paper dolls of adult women, rather than baby dolls. Inspired, Ruth created Barbie--named after her daughter--in 1959. A fashion model doll with a great wardrobe and interesting accessories, Barbie let young girls imagine a future of teenage freedom. Barbie's cultural impact was huge--sales of baby dolls declined. By 1965, Mattel was a Fortune 500 company.
- Ken Doll in "Dream Boat" Outfit, circa 1961 -
- circa 1961
- Collections - Artifact
Ken Doll in "Dream Boat" Outfit, circa 1961