Barbie Dolls

Ever wonder how Barbie came to be?

She was the brainchild of an enterprising American mom who, in the late '50's, visited Germany and fell in love with a doll that was modeled after a real-life adult. Unlike the standard children's dolls that were sold in 1950's America, "Bild Lilli" looked like a woman in every way.

After returning to the United States, Ruth Handler and her husband worked to make an American version of the doll, and named their new creation "Barbie" after their daughter, Barbara. The rest is history.

For more details on Barbie's story, check out this edition of the Parenting Then and Now Retro Memory.