History

The first Barbie was created in 1959 by Ruth Handler. She first displayed the doll at the New York Toy Show, and it was an immediate hit. The original Barbie was 11 1/2 inches tall with blonde hair and blue eyes. Barbie differed from other dolls of its time because Barbie was the first doll with an adult body.

http://www.dailyhistory.net/march-9-1959-first-barbie-doll/
http://otal.umd.edu/~vg/mssp96/ms07/cult.htm