#bpcl barbies

[popculturelib]

Barbies of the BPCL: Ghanaian Barbie Doll

This Barbie is a collector's edition doll that is part of the Dolls of the World collection from 1996. The official description reads:

Tour the wilds of Africa with this Collector Edition Barbie doll in a traditional costume from the West African country of Ghana. She wears an authentically styled Kente cloth tunic dress that ties into a bow below her knees. A brightly colored turban ties around her head and she wears flat golden sandals for walking through the lush forests. Her beautiful jewelry, including golden hoop earrings, a bangle bracelet and a seashell necklace, all add to the captivating charm of this African beauty.

Check out our other Barbies at #bpcl barbies.

The Browne Popular Culture Library (BPCL), founded in 1969, is the most comprehensive archive of its kind in the United States.  Our focus and mission is to acquire and preserve research materials on American Popular Culture (post 1876) for curricular and research use. Visit our website at https://www.bgsu.edu/library/pcl.html.

[popculturelib]

Barbies of the BPCL: Northwest Coast Native American Barbie

This Barbie is part of the Dolls of the World collection from 2000. The description from the Barbie collection reads:

Yake'i ixw sateeni! (It is good to see you!) I'm Northwest Coast Native American Barbie doll from Alaska, land of the last frontier. My people live in the Northwest Coast and panhandle area of Southeast Alaska. It is called the panhandle area because it looks like the handle of a frying pan. I am wearing our beautiful ceremonial dress with a Chilkat Robe, traditionally woven from cedar bark and mountain goat hair. Now, I'm ready for the Winter Ceremonials, where we sing and dance, feeling close to the spirits of nature, as our ancestors did. Please come to visit Alaska soon! Tsu yei ixwa sateeni! (I'll see you again!)

Check out our other Barbies at #bpcl barbies.

The Browne Popular Culture Library (BPCL), founded in 1969, is the most comprehensive archive of its kind in the United States.  Our focus and mission is to acquire and preserve research materials on American Popular Culture (post 1876) for curricular and research use. Visit our website at https://www.bgsu.edu/library/pcl.html.

[popculturelib]

Barbies of the BPCL: Tour Guide Barbie from Toy Story 2

Among the classic toys appearing in Toy Story (1995), Barbie was conspicuously absent: Mattel reportedly didn't want to give Barbie a specific personality, instead believing it was more important for young girls who played with the dolls to imagine their own personalities for their Barbies. However, due to the success of Toy Story, Mattel agreed to let Pixar add a Barbie to Toy Story 2 (1999). She also appeared in Toy Story 3 (2010) along with the other toys from Andy.

Check out our other Barbies at #bpcl barbies.

The Browne Popular Culture Library (BPCL), founded in 1969, is the most comprehensive archive of its kind in the United States.  Our focus and mission is to acquire and preserve research materials on American Popular Culture (post 1876) for curricular and research use. Visit our website at https://www.bgsu.edu/library/pcl.html.

[popculturelib]

Barbies of the BPCL: Bathing Suit Barbie, Then and Now series

This 2009 Barbie is a modernized version of her original 1959 design, celebrating 50 years of Barbie. Check out our other Barbies at #bpcl barbies.

The Browne Popular Culture Library (BPCL), founded in 1969, is the most comprehensive archive of its kind in the United States.  Our focus and mission is to acquire and preserve research materials on American Popular Culture (post 1876) for curricular and research use. Visit our website at https://www.bgsu.edu/library/pcl.html.

[popculturelib]

Barbies of the BPCL: 1964 Skipper with carrying case

This doll is Skipper, Barbie's younger sister. She made her debut in 1964 as a response to calls for Barbie to have children -- instead of making Barbie pregnant, she would instead babysit her little sister. Our Skipper comes with a carrying case and clothing changes, though she remains here in her original 1964 swimsuit. Skipper is popular enough that we have an entire book dedicated to her and her accessories: Skipper, Barbie Doll's Little Sister: Identification and Value Guide (1998) by Scott Arend, Karla Holzerland, and Trina Kent

Check out our other Barbies at #bpcl barbies.

The Browne Popular Culture Library (BPCL), founded in 1969, is the most comprehensive archive of its kind in the United States.  Our focus and mission is to acquire and preserve research materials on American Popular Culture (post 1876) for curricular and research use. Visit our website at https://www.bgsu.edu/library/pcl.html.

[popculturelib]

Barbies of the BPCL: Rosie O'Donnell, Friend of Barbie

The Rosie O'Donnell doll was released in 1999 as a tie-in to the Rosie O'Donnell show. This doll was significant for being the first example of the curvy body model, though her clothing options were limited because of this. The curvy model would later make its appearance in the Fashionista line in 2016.

Check out our other Barbies at #bpcl barbies.

The Browne Popular Culture Library (BPCL), founded in 1969, is the most comprehensive archive of its kind in the United States.  Our focus and mission is to acquire and preserve research materials on American Popular Culture (post 1876) for curricular and research use. Visit our website at https://www.bgsu.edu/library/pcl.html.

[popculturelib]

Barbies of the BPCL: She Said Yes! Barbie Gift Set

Barbie and Ken are getting married! This doll set comes from 2010 and celebrates the happy couple!

Check out our other Barbies at #bpcl barbies.

The Browne Popular Culture Library (BPCL), founded in 1969, is the most comprehensive archive of its kind in the United States.  Our focus and mission is to acquire and preserve research materials on American Popular Culture (post 1876) for curricular and research use. Visit our website at https://www.bgsu.edu/library/pcl.html.

[popculturelib]

Barbies of the BPCL: Barbie and the Rockers Dana Doll

Barbie and the Rockers is a rock band-themed line from the 1980s that was meant to compete with Hasbro's Jem and the Holograms. Dana (1985, #1196), a Korean-American doll, used the "Oriental/Kira" face mold originally introduced in 1980 in an effort to add diversity to the Barbie brand. The Barbie and the Rockers line has been updated and re-released several times during the 2000s.

Check out our other Barbies at #bpcl barbies.

The Browne Popular Culture Library (BPCL), founded in 1969, is the most comprehensive archive of its kind in the United States.  Our focus and mission is to acquire and preserve research materials on American Popular Culture (post 1876) for curricular and research use. Visit our website at https://www.bgsu.edu/library/pcl.html.

[popculturelib]

Barbies of the BPCL: 2017 Fashionistas Ken #5 Hip Hoodie

This Ken doll is from the Fashionistas line popular in the 2010s. He originally came with a sleeveless blue hoodie, red t-shirt, and white shows. We're not entirely sure what happened to his clothes, but his pants appear to be original to the doll.

Check out our other Barbies at #bpcl barbies.

The Browne Popular Culture Library (BPCL), founded in 1969, is the most comprehensive archive of its kind in the United States.  Our focus and mission is to acquire and preserve research materials on American Popular Culture (post 1876) for curricular and research use. Visit our website at https://www.bgsu.edu/library/pcl.html.

[popculturelib]

Barbies of the BPCL: 1960s Bubblecut Doll

In 1961, Mattel released a Barbie doll with a bubblecut hairstyle that replaced her original ponytail. She is otherwise identical to her predecessors and uses the original 1958 face mold. It's unclear to us whether this doll was released in 1961 or 1962.

Check out our other Barbies at #bpcl barbies.

The Browne Popular Culture Library (BPCL), founded in 1969, is the most comprehensive archive of its kind in the United States.  Our focus and mission is to acquire and preserve research materials on American Popular Culture (post 1876) for curricular and research use. Visit our website at https://www.bgsu.edu/library/pcl.html.

[popculturelib]

Barbies of the BPCL: Barbie Doll Case and Doll

This Barbie is the #1070 American Girl with Page-Boy Haircut Barbie from 1965. The case appears to be the 1963 Miss Barbie Black Patent Leather Case and comes with a variety of clothes and accessories.

Check out our other Barbies at #bpcl barbies.

The Browne Popular Culture Library (BPCL), founded in 1969, is the most comprehensive archive of its kind in the United States.  Our focus and mission is to acquire and preserve research materials on American Popular Culture (post 1876) for curricular and research use. Visit our website at https://www.bgsu.edu/library/pcl.html.

[popculturelib]

Barbies of the BPCL: Beach Streak Asha (1993) in a 1992 Bongo Fashions outfit

The Marvelous World of Shani was a line released by Mattel in the early 1990s of exclusively African American dolls. Originally consisting of Shani, Asha, and Nichelle, the Shani dolls were Mattel's effort to include Black dolls that were more representative of Black culture and face/body shapes than Barbies of the past. The Shani line was initially distinct from the Barbie lines, though their clothing was compatible, until Mattel merged the two a few years later.

Check out our other Barbies at #bpcl barbies.

The Browne Popular Culture Library (BPCL), founded in 1969, is the most comprehensive archive of its kind in the United States.  Our focus and mission is to acquire and preserve research materials on American Popular Culture (post 1876) for curricular and research use. Visit our website at https://www.bgsu.edu/library/pcl.html.

[popculturelib]

Barbies of the BPCL: Superstar Barbie

This Barbie is a 2009 remake of a 1977 doll. How fashionable!

Check out our other Barbies at #bpcl barbies.

The Browne Popular Culture Library (BPCL), founded in 1969, is the most comprehensive archive of its kind in the United States.  Our focus and mission is to acquire and preserve research materials on American Popular Culture (post 1876) for curricular and research use. Visit our website at https://www.bgsu.edu/library/pcl.html.

[popculturelib]

Barbies of the BPCL: 35th Anniversary Barbie

It isn't a Barbie Week without the iconic dolls, so we're showing off our collection! This Barbie of the BPCL is a re-release of the original Barbie doll in celebration of her 35th anniversary in 1993. The caption on the back of of the box reads:

She's back! The most famous American Teenage Fashion Model ever, looking just as she did in 1959 when the world of Barbie dolls first began! Now is a perfect time to start a Barbie doll collection for a special little girl in your life...or for the special little girl in you!

Check out our other Barbies at #bpcl barbies.

The Browne Popular Culture Library (BPCL), founded in 1969, is the most comprehensive archive of its kind in the United States.  Our focus and mission is to acquire and preserve research materials on American Popular Culture (post 1876) for curricular and research use. Visit our website at https://www.bgsu.edu/library/pcl.html.

[popculturelib]

In addition to the 3D Barbie doll, there were also a series of paper doll books for Barbie in different poses. Here, we have Twirly Curls Barbie and Angel Face Barbie in doll form, both from 1983, along with a sample of clothing for each figure.

The Browne Popular Culture Library (BPCL), founded in 1969, is the most comprehensive archive of its kind in the United States.  Our focus and mission is to acquire and preserve research materials on American Popular Culture (post 1876) for curricular and research use. Visit our website at https://www.bgsu.edu/library/pcl.html.

[popculturelib]

It's Barbie Week at the Browne Popular Culture Library!

Although Barbie is widely known as a children's toy, there is a sizeable collector's market for Barbie dolls, and we have quite a few comprehensive books about Barbie, her friends, and accessories. They're quite helpful for people who want to learn about the history of specific dolls, design changes, and pricing.

We also have several catalogs directed at serious Barbie collectors looking for exclusive dolls and items. These are often higher quality than Barbie dolls meant to be played with -- some are made of porcelain instead of plastic. Many collector edition Barbies are tie-ins with other media or reproductions of vintage dolls. Below is one of our catalogs from 2003:

Here's a page from the catalog, chosen because the person who runs this account played with a Rapunzel Barbie when she was younger (though a way less fancy version):

A different catalog shows off more collector's edition dolls, such as a Bob Mackie Circus Barbie, complete with a swing (left) and a pair of dolls commemorating the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton (right):

For more information about these items, check out our catalog listings below the read more.

The Browne Popular Culture Library (BPCL), founded in 1969, is the most comprehensive archive of its kind in the United States.  Our focus and mission is to acquire and preserve research materials on American Popular Culture (post 1876) for curricular and research use. Visit our website at https://www.bgsu.edu/library/pcl.html.

Books:

The Wonder of Barbie: Dolls & Accessories, 1976-1986 (1987) by Paris & Susan Manos

The World of Barbie Dolls (1983) by Paris & Susan Manos

The Barbie Doll Years: A Comprehensive Listing & Value Guide of Dolls & Accessories (2001) by Patrick C. Olds and Joyce L. Olds

The Collectors Encyclopedia of Barbie Dolls and Collectibles (1985) by Sibyl DeWein and Joan Ashabraner

Barbie Doll & Her Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod World of Fashion, 1967-1972: Price Guide (1996) by Joe Blitman

Barbie Fashion (1990) by Sarah Sink Eames

Barbie Exclusives: Identification & Values (1995) by Margo Rana

Catalogs:

Barbie Collectibles by Mail, Spring 2003

Barbie Collector, Holiday 2010 and Spring 2012