History Lesson: The Barbie Doll is Introduced

On March 9th, 1959 the first Barbie doll goes on display at the American Toy Fair in New York City.  She was the first doll that was made with adult features and mass produced in the United States.

The doll was named after Ruth Handler's (the woman behind Barbie) daughter Barbara.  After watching her daughter play with paper dolls of adult women instead of baby dolls, Handler realized that there was a part in the toy market that had yet to be fulfilled.  Thus Handler created Barbie so that little girls could play and imagine the future.

Even though Barbie has seen some controversy the positive note of the doll is that she provided a different role model for little girls of the 1950s.  Barbie has held many different jobs such as doctor, pilot, Olympic athlete, and even U.S. presidential candidate.