The writing, managing, and storing of documents in a late medieval imperial city can hardly be illuminated as intensively anywhere as in Esslingen. The volume, collaboratively developed by the University of Stuttgart and the Esslingen City Archive, includes twelve contributions that address literacy and administrative practices from various perspectives and by evaluating diverse groups of sources under modern questions. The authors gain new and surprising insights through subtle examinations of the source material, contributing to both literacy research and regional as well as general urban history.