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Barbie

The History of America’s Most Famous Doll

Learn the history of the most likely famous doll in the world! Presented by Leslie Goddard, Ph.D., an award-winning historian, author, actress and lecturer. Please register.

She might be the most famous doll in the world. For more than sixty years, Barbie has been played with, analyzed, collected, criticized and loved. In this illustrated lecture, historian Leslie Goddard delves into the history of Barbie and her inventor, the passionately creative – and intensely competitive -- Ruth Handler.  Learn what inspired Handler to develop Barbie in 1959, how
Barbie helped make Mattel one of the world’s most successful toy companies, and what Barbie’s impact has been on American culture.

Leslie Goddard is an award-winning actress and scholar who has been presenting history programs for more than fifteen years. She holds a Ph.D. from Northwestern University specializing in American studies and U.S. history as well as a master’s degree in theater.  A former museum director, she is the author of three books on history and currently works fulltime as an author and public speaker.

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