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'Ossian Everett Mills' (February 16, 1856 - December 26, 1920) is the founder Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts on October 6, 1898.

Contents

Life

Legacy

Life

Ossian Everett Mills was born to Andrew and Maria Mills of Thompson, Connecticut on February 16, 1856. As early as 1879, he went to Boston and was eventually employed in the business office of the New England Conservatory by Dr. Eben Tourjee, founder of the institution. Mills rose eventually to be bursar, the position he held at the time of his death, and the one through which he had been known to thousands of Conservatory teachers and students.
In 1898, Mills founded the Sinfonia Club at the Conservatory, which was destined very soon to be come Alpha Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America. He was elected honorary member of the club at its first meeting on October 6, 1898. On November 14, 1898, the chapter elected him treasurer, an office which he held for many years afterward. Although the first initiation of new members took place on November 28, 1898, Mills was not initiated until the following meeting on December 13.
Often referred to as the "Father of Sinfonia," Mills had been a familiar figure at annual conventions until his last years when his work would not permit his leaving Boston. He served the Fraternity as Supreme President from 1901-1902 and 1904-1905 and was elected "Honorary Grand Supreme President for Life" in 1904.
Ossian Everett Mills died from pneumonia at his home in Wellesley, Massachusetts on December 26, 1920. He had been ill for only a few days. He is buried in the family plot of a small, wooded cemetery in Thompson, Connecticut.

Legacy

The National Philanthropy of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia continues to be known as the Mills Music Mission, named for Ossian Everett Mills. In 1886, Mills originated the practice of taking a group of New England Conservatory students to perform for patients in Boston hospitals on Christmas and Easter. The students would sing, play music and give recitations. The students would also bring flowers to distribute to the patients. Mills's "flower missions," as they came to be known, brought joy to the lonely and hope to the destitute. The Mills Music Mission was accepted as Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia's National Philanthropy in 2003. It is unique among fraternity philanthropies in that Sinfonians make a personal sacrifice to help individuals and lift spirits through music. During the week of February 11-18, 2006, almost 200 chapters and alumni associations participated in Mills Music Missions in observance of Ossian Everett Mills's 150th birthday.
Mills' memory and contributions are honored yearly by the members of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia on October 6, which is designated as the Fraternity's Founders Day. During the Fraternity's Centennial celebration in October 1998, a memorial service was held at Mills' gravesite. The service was based on a ceremony used to dedicate Mills monument placed in 1928.