Ruth Handler was born on November 4, 1916, in Colorado.  Ruth was youngest out of 10 children of Polish immigrants. Her father was a blacksmith who deserted the Russian army. Mother was illiterate when she arrived in America.  The family came to America in the steerage section in a steamship.  Ruth’s mother’s health was frail. 
      For education, Ruth went to high school.
     At the age of 19, Ruth went to Hollywood for a vacation and wound up staying. She married Elliot Handler. She had 2 children, BARBI and KEN. They made dollhouse furniture and houseware items for a living.              
     Handler invented the Barbie doll. The Barbie doll was made in her house.  Her husband helped her. She invented Barbie to keep kids happy and to play with and have fun on boring days. It took her 6 years to make a Barbie.  She melted plastic and painted the eyes and the lips.                   
     The invention made her rich.  She made a million dollar a year in the 1960s.  It was very popular. Dolls were sold all over the world. 
     Ruth died on April 27, 2002, at the Century City Hospital in Los Angeles, California.    

Works Cited

Ruth Handler. 2004.

"Netdoll(Barbie."  http://www.shareholder/news. 22/24/04.