Barbie Is Saved

03/18/1999 at 12:00 AM EST

Mattel Inc. announced Tuesday that it has paid an undisclosed amount for some 21,000 Barbie dolls and accessories to Evelyn and Robert Burkhalter, who ran the Barbie Hall of Fame for 15 years in Palo Alto, Calif., before losing their lease recently. Mattel, which manufactures the famous doll, says the collection includes many rare products, including exclusive international dolls and vintage Barbie store displays. The dolls will be added to Mattel's archives while plans for a new Mattel museum are finalized.