Ma Barker, born Arizona Donnie Clark in 1871, was the matriarch of the notorious Barker-Karpis gang during the 1930s. She was known for her role in organizing and supporting her sons in their criminal activities, which included bank robbery and kidnapping. Despite her limited direct involvement in crimes, Ma Barker became a symbol of the era's criminal underworld. Law enforcement viewed her as a significant figure in the gang's operations, leading to her portrayal in various media as a ruthless criminal mastermind, although many historians argue that her influence was exaggerated.