William Bruce “Bill” King, of Cambridge, Needham, and Phillipston, MA, passed away on July 22, 2025, at age 93, after a brief illness. Beloved and respected by all who knew him, Bill charmed family, friends, and colleagues with bonhomie, long stories, good humor, curiosity, and keen intelligence. He was dedicated to his family, to the law firm where he spent his entire professional career, and to civic engagement in every community he joined.
Above, Bill King at Harvard’s Memorial Hall in 2000
Bill was appointed to the Cambridge Historical Commission in 1973 and served as chair from 1986 until he retired in 2017. By a conservative calculation, Bill attended almost 500 commission meetings and chaired about 350 of them. He was notable for his judicious temperament, calm demeanor, and willingness to be amused at the occasional absurdities of public life. He displayed a conspicuous tolerance of public discourse, with the result that applicants and members of the public generally went away feeling respected even if their views did not carry the day. Among many other accomplishments, Bill contributed to several legislative initiatives that expanded the role of historic preservation in Cambridge and, by example, throughout the Commonwealth.
We thank Bill for his decades of public service and friendship.
The City of Cambridge Historical Commission (CHC) is currently hiring for the Assistant Director position.
About the Department: The CHC was established in 1963 “to promote the educational, cultural, economic, and general welfare of the public through the preservation and protection of … [significant] buildings and places.” As a regulatory agency, the Commission has jurisdiction over two historic and four neighborhood conservation districts comprising more than 3,000 buildings, as well as 48 landmarks and 43 individually restricted properties. It administers a citywide Demolition Delay Ordinance, which pertains to buildings over 50 years old and allows a 12-month delay to explore preservation alternatives. The Commission also works with community groups, public agencies, property owners, and the general public on matters relating to local history and historic preservation.
The Commission oversees an annual allocation of approximately $2 million in Community Preservation Act historic preservation funds, including a Preservation Grant program that supports affordable housing agencies, income-eligible homeowners, and nonprofit owners of significant buildings. The Commission also maintains an historic cemetery and collaborates with the Department of Public Works on maintenance of public monuments.
About the role: The Assistant Director of the Cambridge Historical Commission administers a staff of eight professionals (plus interns and volunteers) and coordinates a variety of day-to-day office functions, including payroll, bill paying, customer service, and managing schedules.
A core responsibility of the Assistant Director is the administration of the Commission’s $700,000 Preservation Grants Program, which supports affordable housing agencies and non-profits with approximately a dozen preservation-related grant projects annually.
The Assistant Director performs high level organization and administrative duties that require confidentiality, sound decision-making and problem-solving abilities, while supporting a positive and collaborative office culture. This position reports to the Executive Director of the CHC.
Gail Willett with a display at Savanna Books, date unknown. Image courtesy Gail Willett.
Today we’re featuring Savanna Books, a bookstore specializing in books about children of color, and the store’s founder, Gail Pettiford Willett. As a Black woman and parent disappointed and frustrated by the scarcity of multicultural books for children and young adults, Willett took it upon herself to make such titles available to the local community as well as her own family. She began this endeavor despite having a psychiatric nursing background and no formal business training. The venture began in the early 1980s as a mail order business run from her home in Cambridgeport.
Gail Willett and her husband Walter inside Savanna Books, date unknown. Image courtesy Gail Willett.
When Willett was ready to expand the business to a storefront, her husband built counters, shelves, and other furnishings to outfit the first brick and mortar location at 858 Mass Ave, which opened in 1989. Willett notes that at the time, this was only one of two bookstores in the United States focusing on children of color.
Gail Willett (center) celebrates the grand opening of Savanna Books with her husband (left) and son, ca. June 1989. Image courtesy Gail Willett.
Gail Willett outside the first location of Savanna Books at 858 Mass Ave in June 1990. Image courtesy Gail Willett.
That same year, a pamphlet outlining the store’s goals was distributed at Freedom House’s 2nd Annual Cultural Holiday Bazaar. It read, in part: We believe that children must have books that reflect their cultures, teach their heritages, and expand their horizons. As parents we have searched for books which provide a positive variety of images for our children. Over the years we have watched many of the best books about children of color go out of print. We decided, then, to become advocates for this literature.
“Savanna Books information” by Gail Pettiford Willett, 1989. Freedom House, Inc. records (M16), Northeastern University Library. http://hdl.handle.net/2047/D20329436.
Willett first started the business on her own. She later spoke with publishers who sent sales reps to offer assistance. She then began hiring help at the store, put together a board of friends, and hired a bookstore consultant. Willett started going in to schools for programming and then sponsoring contests to involve families and children.
Article featuring Savanna Books in The Cambridge Chronicle, 3 May 1990.
As part of her efforts, Willett participated in forums on cultural diversity, facilitated workshops and pop-up events at her store for parents and teachers. Willett very much enjoyed hosting author events at the store. Writer and illustrator Pat Cummings agreed to help celebrate the 1-year anniversary of Savanna Books in May 1990.
Gail Willet’s son (left) and two friends outside Savanna Books at 858 Mass Ave in September 1989. Image courtesy Gail Willett.
In 1993, when more space was needed for programming, the business was moved to larger quarters at 1132 Mass Ave in Harvard Square.
Gail Willett outside the second location of Savanna Books at 1132 Mass Ave, ca. 1993. Image courtesy Gail Willett.
Over the years, demand for books depicting diverse cultural backgrounds increased and other bookstores began carrying the titles that a local shopper could once find only at Savanna Books. Facing rising costs and competition, Willett closed her bookstore in January 1996. Following the closure, Willett pivoted back to her home mail-order business.
Gail Willett (right) with Savanna Books customers, date unknown. Image courtesy Gail Willett.
In 1999, Willett continued her path of bringing enrichment to children’s lives through literature and became a program coordinator at the Cambridge Public Library. Most recently, she and close friend Poppy Dade Milner have taken their passion for textiles to create Nguo Fabric Art where their pieces “celebrate and represent the beauty, confidence, creativity, and strength of African culture.”
Gail Willett (right) and Poppy Milner (left) stand with a Nguo Fabric Art display at the Cousen Rose Gallery on Martha’s Vineyard in June 2022. Image courtesy Nguo Art Instagram.
We thank Gail Willett for being a pioneer in bringing books of multicultural richness to the children of Cambridge and Boston for so many years.
Gail Willet’s son sporting a Savanna Books t-shirt, ca. 1990. Image courtesy Gail Willett.
Stop by and see us at 105 Brattle St TODAY as we participate in the Longfellow House–Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site event: Headquarters of a Revolution: The 250th Anniversary of Washington’s Arrival in Cambridge. We’ll have a table focused on the myth of the Washington Elm, including a few Revolutionary-era artifacts on display! Full event details below.
Saturday, July 5, 2025, 10:00am-3:00pm Commemorate the 250th anniversary of General George Washington’s arrival in Cambridge to assume command of the Continental Army in 1775. Cambridge Headquarters was a testing ground for many of the ideals, institutions, and questions that still define our country. This event will reveal Cambridge Headquarters as a complex hub of revolutionary activity, where generals, enslaved people, paid laborers, poets, Indigenous diplomats, politicians, self-emancipated families, and soldiers shaped history. Event schedule and learn more.
This all-ages event invites visitors to experience Revolutionary-era history brought to life through:
Neighborhood and house tours Living history interpreters Short talks by historians Cambridge Open Archives Historical exhibits and family-friendly activities, including a Story Walk This event is made possible through the generous support of Eastern National, a nonprofit partner of the National Park Service.
