Entrepreneur Biographies as Microhistories of X

In 2009/10, I spent many weeks in a former beverage market in Bielefeld, Germany.1 The warehouse — as well as I myself — was cooled down to 60° F in order to guarantee optimal conditions for the storage and preservation of the archival and material legacy of Dr. Oetker. This well-known German consumer product brand unites under its umbrella the production of various foodstuff s — this was the origin of the company, which is well known in the U.S. and Canada as a heavyweight in the frozen pizza market — as well as beer and non-alcoholic beverages; wine, sparkling wine and spirits; an ocean carrier (the Hamburg Süd group); a renowned private bank and luxury hotels. Together with two colleagues of mine, Sven Keller and Andreas Wirsching, I had the chance to take materials of my choosing from the long rows of shelves and to have a work station in the archival warehouse, with the most interesting sources within arm’s reach. However, in the long run 60° F proved to be way too chilly for me.