RUTH HANDLER

Businesswoman Ruth Handler (1916-2002), creator of Barbie, was the youngest of ten children born to Polish immigrants who settled in Denver, Colorado. She moved to Los Angeles, California, and married childhood sweetheart Elliot Handler in 1938. While he studied industrial design, they formed Elliot Handler Plastics, and between 1939 and 1942 Elliot designed and manufactured novelty goods made of the new material lucite, and Ruth managed the business and sales. Their second venture, Elzac, 1942-1944, manufactured costume jewelry.

With their friend Harold (Matt) Matson they formed Mattel, Inc., which was incorporated in 1945. At first they sold doll furniture, and later branched out into musical toys. Capital loaned by family members in 1947 and 1949 helped expand the company which remained a Handler-owned and operated concern until 1963 when shares were first traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Manufacture was sub-contracted and the Mattel plant in Hawthorne, California, was used for assembly alone. In the 1950s, the company hired mostly women, of all races and nationalities and in the 1960s pioneered safety measures that became industry standards.

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