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BKFK Home Page | BKFK Kids | Inventors
| Handler, Ruth Ruth Handler
Barbie Dolls
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Ruth Handler became the co-founder of
Mattel, one of the 500 largest United States industrial
companies. She was an inventor AND an entrepreneur.
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Her husband was building furniture out
of plastics and Barbara suggested they turn it into a
business. That business sold plastic doll furniture and
eventually became Mattel.
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As Ruth Handler watched her daughter
Barbara playing with paper dolls, she became inspired to
invent what is now a $1.5 billion industry.
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The Barbie doll was intended to be a
teenage fashion doll. Barbie was named after her daughter
Barbara and Ken after her son.
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