On March 9, 1959, the first Barbie doll went on display at the American Toy
Fair in New York City.

Eleven inches tall, with a waterfall of blond hair, Barbie was the first mass-
produced toy doll in the United States with adult features. The woman
behind Barbie was Ruth Handler (below), who co-founded Mattel, Inc. with
her husband in 1945. After seeing her young daughter ignore her baby dolls
to play make-believe with paper dolls of adult women, Handler realized there
was an important niche in the market for a toy that allowed little girls to
imagine the future.

Barbie’s appearance was modeled on a doll named Lilli, based on a German
comic strip character.

Mattell founders Ruth and Elliot Handler with a Barbie doll.

Ruth Marianna Handler(Mosko)
(November 4, 1916 – April 27, 2002)

The first Barbie doll was officially unveiled on March 9,
1959, at the New York Toy Fair and 60 years later she’s
still a sensation among children and the adults who
grew up playing with her and her friends.

Barbie doll was created by Ruth Handler, the co-founder
of Mattel, whose daughter was named Barbara.

The full name of the first doll was Barbie Millicent Roberts,
and she was from Willows, Wisconsin. Barbie’s job was a teenage fashion model. Now, however, the doll has been
made in versions connected to over 125 different careers, including President of the United States.

Mattell founders Ruth and Elliott Handler with a Barbie doll.

Johnny Gruelle (December 24, 1880 – January 9, 1938)

Gruelle was an artist, political cartoonist, children’s book author
and illustrator (and even songwriter). He is known as the creator
of Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy. He had such confidence in
his work that he would often create the final ink work without first
sketching in pencil. Gruelle spent a year in Ashland, Oregon from
1923–1924.

Xavier Roberts

Cabbage Patch Kids is a line of dolls created by art student Xavier Roberts
in 1978. They were originally called "Little People". The original dolls were
all cloth and sold at local craft shows. The dolls attracted the attention of
toy manufacturer Coleco, who began mass-production in 1982. Cabbage
Patch Kids brand went on to become one of the most popular toy fads
of the 1980s and one of the longest-running doll franchises in America.