top of page
1.png
3.png

Added By

Added By

Item Year

Added By

Year Added

Added By

Location

Added By

Source

Added By

Screenshot 2026-03-24 at 5.08.45 PM.png
logo (1)_edited.jpg
calendar (1).png
calendar (2).png
circle-upload-512_edited.png
images_edited.png
Screenshot 2026-03-24 at 5.08.45 PM.png

Added By

Curators' Team

Item Year

1961

Year Added

2025

Source

Mattel

Location

N/A

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 12 inches tall in response to complaints that Barbie was 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 'brownette' hairstyle a year later. Handler and designer Charlotte Johnson advocated for Ken to have some genitalia, at least a ‘bulge’ in his trousers; however, male executives at…

Added By

Curators' Team

Item Year

1961

Year Added

2025

Location

N/A

Source

Mattel

Screenshot 2026-03-24 at 5.08.45 PM.png
logo (1)_edited.jpg
calendar (1).png
calendar (2).png
circle-upload-512_edited.png
images_edited.png
Screenshot 2026-03-24 at 5.08.45 PM.png

Added By

Added By

Item Year

Item Year

Year Added

Item Year

Source

Item Year

Location

Item Year

LIVE LOUD

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 12 inches tall in response to complaints that Barbie was 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 'brownette' hairstyle a year later. Handler and designer Charlotte Johnson advocated for Ken to have some genitalia, at least a ‘bulge’ in his trousers; however, male executives at…


SOURCE
Item Year
YEAR ADDED
Item Year
ADDED BY
Item Year
logo (1)_edited.jpg
calendar (1).png
calendar (2).png
circle-upload-512_edited.png
images_edited.png
Screenshot 2026-03-24 at 5.08.45 PM.png
ADDED BY
Item Year
LOCATION
Item Year
ITEM YEAR
Item Year
ITEM YEAR
Item Year
YEAR ADDED
Item Year
SOURCE
Item Year
LOCATION
Item Year
ADDED BY
Curators' Team

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 12 inches tall in response to complaints that Barbie was 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 'brownette' hairstyle a year later. Handler and designer Charlotte Johnson advocated for Ken to have some genitalia, at least a ‘bulge’ in his trousers; however, male executives at Mattel disagreed, and therefore, the smooth groin area was the compromise. After more than forty years…

ADDED BY
Item Year

ITEM YEAR
1961
YEAR ADDED
2025
SOURCE
Mattel
LOCATION
N/A
Screenshot 2026-03-24 at 5.08.45 PM.png
download_edited_edited_edited_edited.png

Nothing to see yet. :(

Add media related to this item.

bottom of page