1908 Richard Rummell Bird's-Eye View of the University of Michigan Campus

This is a rare 1908 Richard Rummell view of the campus of the University of Michigan. The view reveals the historical campus looking to the northwest from a point about 300 feet above the intersection of South State Street and South University Avenue. Although it has been remodeled somewhat today, the neoclassic building in the foreground is current University of Michigan Museum of Art, then the Alumni Memorial Hall. Beyond it Tappan Hall and the President's house, still stand much as they did then. To the left of the art museum is the Victorian Romance Languages Building, demolished in 1958. Further to the left, along State Street, is the dramatic façade of University Hall, the first major campus building, which linked the smaller buildings, which became wings, Mason Hall and South College. In the foreground to the left is Newberry Hall, now the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, and West Hall, raised in 1923. Other historical buildings visible in the distance include the Detroit Observatory, the Catherine Street Hospital, the Dental Building, and North Hall.

Rummell began issuing views of American colleges around 1905. Rummell's views come in several different forms including color, and black and white, as here. Like most of Rummell's university views, it is copyrighted by his publisher, W. T. Littig and Company. An earlier version of this view, published by A. W. Elson and company, did not have a title below the view. On the present Littig edition, Elson's imprint in in the lower right has been notably scratched out.

In more recent times Arader Galleries has acquired many of the original printing plates for Rummell's college views and currently issues re-strikes, but the original early 20th century printings, as here have become extremely rare. We have encountered many of Rummell's campus views over the years, but this is the first time we have seen an original of the University of Michigan.