Ruth Handler

Birth Name: Ruth Marianna Mosko

Date of Birth: November 4, 1916

Place of Birth: Denver, Colorado, U.S.

Date of Death: April 27, 2002

Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Ruth Handler was an American businessperson and inventor. She invented Barbie in 1959. She co-founded toy manufacturer Mattel with her husband, Elliot Handler, and she was then its first president, from 1945 to 1975. The two also came up with Chatty Cathy, Creepy Crawlers, and Hot Wheels, among other popular toys. Their two children were named Barbara and Kenneth, after whom were named Barbie and Ken.

Ruth was the daughter of Polish Jewish/Russian Jewish immigrants, Ida (Rubenstein/Rubinstein) and Jacob Moscowitz/Moskowicz/Mosko. She moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1938. Ruth was married to Elliot, until her death; he was also a businessperson and inventor, and was the son of Russian Jewish immigrants. Their son Kenneth Handler was a screenwriter, director, and film composer.

Sources: The Handler family, Elliot, Ruth, Barbara, and Kenneth, on the 1950 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Ruth Mosko/Handler on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org