Barbie Doll Dressed in "Busy Girl" Outfit, 1960-1961
Add to SetSummary
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.
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.
Artifact
Doll
Date Made
1960-1961
Keywords
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
2008.135.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Cynthia Read Miller
Material
Hair (Material)
Cloth
Paint (Coating)
Plastic
Technique
Molding (forming)
Color
Black (Color)
Blue
Brown
Red
White (Color)
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