Ruth Handler Quotes

A collection of quotes by Ruth Handler.

Ruth Handler was an American businesswoman and inventor, born on November 4, 1916, in Denver, Colorado. She is best known as the co-founder of the toy company Mattel and the creator of the iconic Barbie doll.

After completing her education, Ruth worked alongside her husband Elliot Handler, initially founding a picture frame making business. However, their entrepreneurial spirit drove them to expand into toy manufacturing. In the 1940s, the couple started producing plastic dollhouse furniture, which proved to be successful.

It was Ruth's observation of her daughter Barbara's imaginative play with paper dolls that sparked the idea for a three-dimensional adult-looking fashion doll. In 1959, Ruth Handler introduced the Barbie doll at the New York Toy Fair, revolutionizing the toy industry. Barbie quickly became a global phenomenon, beloved by countless children for decades.

Under Ruth's leadership, Mattel continued to innovate and diversify its products, expanding its reach beyond just dolls. She spearheaded the company's growth by introducing other toy lines, including Hot Wheels and Fisher-Price.

Ruth Handler's contributions to the toy industry were recognized through various accolades and awards during her lifetime. Sadly, Ruth passed away on April 27, 2002, in Los Angeles, California. Her legacy lives on through the enduring popularity of Barbie and the lasting impact she made on the world of play and imagination.