Ruth Handler
1916 – 2002

Ruth Handler

American businesswoman

patent inventorinventorentrepreneurscreenwriter
Born
1916-11-04, Denver
Died
2002-04-27
Birthplace state
Colorado

Biography

Ruth Marianna Handler was an American business magnate and inventor. She is best known for inventing the Barbie doll in 1959 and being co-founder of toy manufacturer Mattel with her husband Elliot, as well as serving as the company's first president from 1945 to 1975.

Occupation

Ruth Handler is recorded as a patent inventor, a inventor, a entrepreneur and a screenwriter, born in Colorado (1916–2002).

Connections to Colorado

Ruth Handler was born in Denver, Colorado in 1916. Explore other notable figures from Colorado, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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More notable figures from Colorado

Other historical figures born in Colorado, ranked by historical prominence.

Willard Libby
Willard Libby
American physical chemist
Ken Kesey
Ken Kesey
American novelist (1935–2001)
Douglas Fairbanks
Douglas Fairbanks
American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer (1883–1939)
Talcott Parsons
Talcott Parsons
American sociologist (1902 – 1979)
Edward Lawrie Tatum
Edward Lawrie Tatum
US genetics scientist (1909-1975)
John Searle
John Searle
American philosopher (1932–2025)
Dalton Trumbo
Dalton Trumbo
American screenwriter (1905–1976)

Frequently asked about Ruth Handler

Who was Ruth Handler?
Ruth Handler was American businesswoman, born in Colorado (1916 – 2002).
When and where was Ruth Handler born?
Ruth Handler was born on 1916-11-04 in Denver.
When did Ruth Handler die?
Ruth died on 2002-04-27.
What was Ruth Handler known for?
Ruth Handler is recorded as a patent inventor, a inventor, a entrepreneur and a screenwriter.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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