Born in Brighton, England in 1867 William Gillam was a painter, etcher, architect, designer and illustrator who made his home in Burlingame, California in 1922 until his death in 1962.

Gillam specialized in monotype and was a member of the California Society of Etchers and the Palo Alto Art Club.  He designed several buildings in British Columbia and Burlingame.  In 1930 he was awarded a special prize at the California State Fair.

He designed the official bookplate for the Burlingame Library and his work is represented in the Sacramento State and Burlingame Libraries, as well as collections throughout the San Francisco Bay Area; England and Vancouver, B.C.