The Barbie doll celebrated its 50th birthday on March 9, 2009. The Skipper doll turns 45 this year.

Barbie (Barbara Millicent) and Skipper (given name unknown, although it probably starts with an "S") are the first of George and Margaret Roberts' six children. The family lives in Willows, Wisconsin, where George is an engineer and Margaret is a homemaker.

The other Roberts children are Stacie (AKA Tutti), Stacie's twin brother Todd, Kelly and baby Krissy. They have three cousins, Francie Fairchild, P.J. and Jazzie.

Mattel has created at least 500 friends for Barbie since 1959. Her first--and best-known friend--is, of course, Ken (full name Kenneth Frederick Carson), introduced in 1961. Next is Midge (full name Margaret Hadley Sherwood), who was first on the market in 1963.

Some other popular dolls are Barbie's friends Christie, Teresa and Kira; Skipper's friends Skooter (given name Imogene Ann) and Courtney; and Ken's little brother Tommy, who is the same age as Kelly.

In the past 50 years, Mattel has created numerous "acquaintances" for Barbie and her family, including Disney dolls such as Cinderella, celebrities such as Marie Osmond and the High School Musical group, fantasy dolls such as the Fairytopia line, and even dolls that were only sold in other countries, such as Wayne Gretzky in Canada.

All Barbie collectors are welcome to join this group. However, sale ads are forbidden. This is a group for information (old and new) only.