Lewis Sprague Mills

Born in Canton Center, Connecticut, Lewis Sprague Mills spent much of his life working in education and public history. He attended Columbia University, taught at the Quasset School in Woodstock from 1897 to 1900, became principal of the Plainfield Grammar School in 1902, and later returned to Columbia before being appointed field supervisor for the Connecticut State Board of Education in 1908. He held that role until his retirement in 1939.

Mills was also an author and publisher. The Connecticut State Library notes that he wrote The Story of Connecticut, described as the first Connecticut history book published for school use, with its first edition appearing in 1932 and later followed by multiple editions. After retiring, he became editor of The Lure of the Litchfield Hills, a semi-annual magazine focused on historical subjects in Litchfield County, and for many years wrote its column "The Editor Says" along with other historical articles.

His interests reached beyond writing alone. Mills built a large photo collection documenting Connecticut schools, homes, bridges, farms, and other historic scenes, reflecting a lifelong effort to record the state's people and places. He also served in civic and religious life, including work as a justice of the peace and as a lay minister. He died in East Hartford on March 7, 1965.