The core piece of her personal papers is the handwritten manuscript of her autobiography "Herbstmilch", which was written by Anna Wimschneider in German script in two A4 paper books in her farm's kitchen. The novel was published by the Piper publishing house in 1985 for the first time and became a best-seller. In 1988/ 89 Joseph Vilsmaier made a film based on Wimschneider's memoirs. The film became one of the greatest box office hits in Germany in 1989. In addition, several stage-play versions were created on the basis of "Herbstmilch", as well as an audio book (2007).

Further, the personal papers also include numerous photographs, correspondence with the Piper publishing house and letters to the editor. In addition, deeds such as that of the Federal Cross of Merit and a documentation of her public appearances on radio stations and television also form part of the archive.

Dr. Klaus Ceynowa, Director General of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek: "The life and work of Anna Wimschneider are exemplary for an entire generation of people in the countryside. We feel honoured to be permitted to conserve a piece of German contemporary history by receiving her personal papers."

The BSB houses one of the largest collections of personal papers in the German language area. Encompassing over 1,100 sets of personal papers, the collection has a main focus on the political and cultural history of Bavaria, including the personal estates of scholars, intellectuals and artists, such as Max Weber, Oskar Maria Graf, Paul Heyse and Hermann Lenz. The collection also includes around 150 sets of personal papers of authors.

• About the BSB's collection of personal papers:
  https://www.bsb-muenchen.de/sammlungen/handschriften/personen/nachlaesse/
• A conversation with Carola Wimschneider about her mother Anna and "Herbstmilch":
  https://www.literaturportal-bayern.de/blog?task=lpbblog.default&id=1573
• Digital insight into the BSB's collection of personal papers:
  https://www.bavarikon.de/object/bav:BSB-CMS-0000000000002302

Illustration:
Handwritten manuscript of the autobiography "Herbstmilch"
Picture credit: Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, München

Press release for download
Press release  (PDF, 80 KB)

Contact persons

Dr. Maximilian Schreiber
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Department of Manuscripts and Rare Books/ Division of Literary Archives and Autographs
Ludwigstr. 16, 80539 Munich
Phone  +49 89 28638-2771
maximilian.schreiber@bsb-muenchen.de

Ulrike Rehusch
Press and Public Relations
Phone  +49 89 28638-2057
presse@bsb-muenchen.de

About the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek:
Founded in 1558 by Duke Albrecht V, the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek is an international research library of world renown. With more than 10.3 million volumes, around 59,000 current journals in electronic and printed form and almost 131,000 manuscripts, the library ranks among the world's most important centers of knowledge and heritage institutions. With more than 2 million digitized works, the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek holds the largest digital data stock of all German libraries. The library offers a broad range of services in the field of innovative digital use scenarios.