With the Capitol’s recent acquisition of Perry Transfers to the Niagara: September 10, 1813, we have completed our collection of prints from A History of Michigan in Paintings. The collection consists of 25 reproduction prints of oil paintings by Robert Thom, a Grand Rapids-born artist known for his detailed historical illustrations.[i] Aside from his Michigan history scenes, Thom is also recognized for his depictions of the history of pharmacy, medicine, and baseball, among other topics. Thom’s original Michigan history paintings, commissioned by the Michigan Bell Telephone Company, are now displayed in the AT&T Michigan building in Lansing.[ii]
The A History of Michigan in Paintings print set was sponsored by the Michigan Historical Commission through the John M. Munson Michigan History Fund.[iii] The reproductions were distributed with the intention of educating Michigan citizens on the founding and development of their state. The prints were released in sets of four to five between the years of 1964 and 1967 and accompanied by text written by historian F. Clever Bald. Then the director of the Michigan Historical Collections at the University of Michigan, Bald was widely considered the expert on early Michigan history.[iv]
The collection begins before humans reached what would become Michigan, showing a landscape dominated by wildlife and foliage in Before History: 10,000 B.C. It then progresses through images of Native Americans and the arrival of Europeans, highlighting moments such as Mme. Cadillac’s October 1701 arrival in Detroit and the American takeover of Fort Mackinac in 1796. Douglass Houghton’s discovery of copper is spotlighted, as is the state capital’s move from Detroit to Lansing in 1848. Other key points of interest to Capitol folks include a depiction of Michigan’s first governor, Stevens T.Mason, and a powerful representation of soldiers from Michigan fighting in the Civil War. The prints progress through the mid-twentieth century, ending with a depiction of aircraft used in World War II.
Thom’s artistic style was realistic and straightforward, dominated by clear and detailed linework. Some art historians have compared his work to that of Norman Rockwell, particularly in regard to their narrative-driven nature. Thom considered himself an illustrator during a time when the merits of illustration were often debated amongst fine artists. He stated, “I make no pretense about my work. The technique is clearly illustration. It intends to tell a story and I believe it does. I regard it as visual distillation of whatever I know to be correct about a particular historical event.”[v]
Though they are dated and now considered historical artifacts, Thom’s intricate depictions of Michigan history continue to help Capitol educators learn and teach about our state’s past. To explore the full set of prints, please visit our collections database.
[i]Robert A. Thom Photograph Collection, Bentley Historical Library, University ofMichigan, Ann Arbor, MI, https://findingaids.lib.umich.edu/catalog/umich-bhl-92985
[ii] AHistory of Michigan in Paintings, Bentley Historical Library, University ofMichigan, Ann Arbor, MI, https://findingaids.lib.umich.edu/catalog/umich-bhl-88574
[iii]A History of Michigan in Paintings, Bentley Historical Library, University ofMichigan, Ann Arbor, MI, https://findingaids.lib.umich.edu/catalog/umich-bhl-88574
[iv]F. Clever Bald Papers, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan, AnnArbor, MI, https://findingaids.lib.umich.edu/catalog/umich-bhl-85848
[v] ShannonHeupel, “Michigan artist Robert Thom illustrated windows into medical history,”Montgomery Advertiser, May 7, 2025.