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Curators' Team
ITEM YEAR
1961
YEAR ADDED
2025
SOURCE
Mattel
N/A
LOCATION

First Ken

The Kenneth Sean Carson doll, or Ken, named after Ruth Handler's son Kenneth, was introduced as Barbie's boyfriend in 1961. Also, from Willows, Wisconsin, Ken was made twelve inches tall in response to complaints about Barbie being single. Originally, Ken had straight arms that didn't bend and a head that could only turn sideways. His hair was made of felt and replaced with a plastic, molded blonde, brunette, and a 'brownette' color hairstyle a year later. Handler and designer Charlotte Johnson advocated for Ken to have some genitalia, at least a…

ITEM YEAR
1961
YEAR ADDED
2025
Mattel
SOURCE
N/A
LOCATION
YEAR ADDED
2025
N/A
LOCATION

First Ken

The Kenneth Sean Carson doll, or Ken, named after Ruth Handler's son Kenneth, was introduced as Barbie's boyfriend in 1961. Also, from Willows, Wisconsin, Ken was made twelve inches tall in response to complaints about Barbie being single. Originally, Ken had straight arms that didn't bend and a head that could only turn sideways. His hair was made of felt and replaced with a plastic, molded blonde, brunette, and a 'brownette' color hairstyle a year later. Handler and designer…

logo (1)_edited.jpg
Curators' Team
ITEM YEAR
1961
Mattel
SOURCE



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