The Michigan State Land Office was a department of the state government of Michigan. It was founded in 1843 and abolished in 1914.

History The state land office was established in 1843. The headquarters of the department were located in Marshall at first, but they were moved to Lansing in 1849. The head of the department of was the commissioner of the state land office. Initially, the land commissioner was a position appointed by the governor with the consent of the state Senate. Under the 1850 Michigan Constitution, the land commissioner was turned into an elected position. The 1908 state constitution allowed for the department to be abolished.

In 1913, Governor Woodbridge N. Ferris signed a bill to abolish the state land office, effective December 31, 1914. The land commissioner's seat on various boards was transferred to the superintendent of public instruction. The functions of the state land office were transferred to the public domain commission. A 1921 act abolished the public domain commission and transferred its functions to the conservation department.

Function The Michigan Official Directory and Legislative Manual for the years 1913 to 1914 described the functions of the commissioner of the state land office as such:

List of commissioners of the state land office Image Name Term Party / Appointer Notes Ref. Digby V. Bell 1843–1846 John S. Barry Abiel Silver 1846–1850 Alpheus Felch Porter Kibbee 1850–1854 John S. BarryInitially appointed by governor in 1850, and then elected to office later in 1850. Democratic Seymour B. Treadwell 1855–1858 Republican James W. Sanborn 1859–1860 Republican Samuel S. Lacey 1861–1864 Republican Cyrus Hewitt 1865–1866 Republican Bingham; Early History of Michigan, pp. 340-341 Benjamin D. Pritchard 1867–1870 Republican Charles A. Edmonds 1871–1872 Republican Leverett A. Clapp 1873–1876 Republican Benjamin F. Partridge 1877–1878 Republican James M. Neasmith 1879–1882 Republican Minor Newell 1883–1886 Republican Roscoe D. Dix 1887–1890 Republican George T. Shaffer 1891–1892 Democratic John G. Berry 1893–1894 Republican RemovedRemoved from office by the governor. William A. French 1894–1900 John T. RichInitially appointed by governor to fill vacancy, and then elected in the following general election. Republican Edwin A. Wildey 1901–1904 Republican William H. Rose 1905–1908 Republican Huntley Russell 1909–1912 Republican Augustus C. Carton 1913–1914 Republican

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