If there’s one toy that almost every single girl has grown up with over the past forty plus years, it’s Barbie. But where did she come from? Her monumental fame has stretched across the globe, she’s been used by recording artists, she’s starred in films, and been adapted to every facet of pop culture from Star Trek, to Beverly Hills 90210, to Hilary Duff. She was an astronaut before women were in the space program, she’s been a doctor, a lawyer, in all four branches of the military, and president. A busy woman who has evolved with the times was, of course, created by a woman.

In 1945, Harold Mattson (Matt) and Ruth and Elliott (El) Handler founded Mattel. The company’s beginning consisted of costume jewelry and dollhouse furniture, eventually becoming a full fledged toy company. 

In 1955, Ruth Handler bought a German Bild Lilli doll, an adult doll with an extensive wardrobe. During this period, and prior, it was assumed that girls were content playing with baby dolls. After bringing Lilli home, Ruth noticed that her daughter enjoyed playing with the adult doll more than she enjoyed playing with the baby counterpart. Handler decided to build her own adult doll for girls to explore being grown up, making the choices they would, given that scenario. She took the design to her husband, Elliott, bought the Lilli patent, and gave the doll her daughter Barbara’s nickname: Barbie.

For more interesting information on the progression of Barbie, check out Geppi’s Entertainment Museum located in Camden Station at Baltimore’s Camden Yards. Call (410) 625-7060 or check out the website.