Barbie was first introduced on March, 9, 1959. Since then she has been the subject of little kids' fantasies, role-play, feminist studies, and all-out consumerism.
She has been everything from a teen model to an ancient Greek princess, fictional character Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, astronaut, and as of 2000, even President of the United States.
As much as some criticize her sometimes unrealistic proportions (depends on the doll—lately Barbie's waist seems to have thickened a bit and her bust reduced somewhat on some editions), Barbie is a blank slate upon which children and even adults, (especially the collectors that have formed around the doll in the past 50 years) can project their aspirations.
With kids playing with President Barbie, the dream becomes reality, and maybe the first female President of the United States is not so far away. Not a bad image for Women's History Month. Rock on, Barbie!
—Elizabeth Periale
The Libraries has many items in its collections relating to the history, collectibility, and possible voodoo connections of America's best-known fashion doll:
Barbie!: her life & times, and the New Theater of Fashion, by Billy Boy; with dolls, documents & designs from the Billy Boy collection.
Barbie, the first 30 years: 1959 through 1989: an identification & value guide, Stefanie Deutsch.
When Ghede met Barbie : syncretism in Haitian Vodou culture, Cope Phil.
The collectors encyclopedia of Barbie dolls and collectibles, by Sibyl DeWein and Joan Ashabraner; edited by Annemarie Dunzelmann.
The Barbie chronicles, edited by Yona Zeldis McDonough.
Global encounters: "Barbie" in Nigerian Agbogho-mmuo mask context, Chinyere Grace Okafor.
Visitors comment on Flight Time Barbie: dolls from the Popular Culture Collection of the National Air and Space Museum, Andrew J. Pekarik, with the assistance of Steven J. Smith, Steven S. Yalowitz.
The Art of Barbie, edited by Craig Yoe.
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