# Howard Miller World Clock ![Cory Gillis next to Howard Miller world clock.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/2025-05/Clock-FinishedwCory-plugremoved.jpg) ## By Cory Gillis While cleaning out the basement at 61 Kirkland Street last July, I uncovered a Weatherhead relic tucked behind a long-abandoned filing cabinet. At first glance, it looked like a framed sixteenth-century-style map of the world, complete with imagery of Poseidon, mythical creatures, ships, and monsters. On closer inspection it read “Howard Miller World Time,” a world clock fitted with dozens of little windows representing the time in major cities. The map date reads 1959, placing this as a proper mid-century modern piece. A plaque on the front reads “To the Center for International Affairs: From the Fellows of 1994–1995.” Additionally, the sides of the box-frame each have a plaque listing all the Fellows who donated the clock that academic year—exactly thirty years ago. This clock—designed by [Howard Miller](https://howardmiller.com/pages/howard-miller-company-history), son of legendary furniture maker Herman Miller—is a symbol of a bygone era in a few ways. It is completely analog with intricate engineering, and it came from a world far less connected. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the most connection you could have to some far-off place like “Wake Island” was just the tiny window on this map. At the time of the clock's dedication, it was roughly thirty-some-odd years of age, and now—another thirty years later—it was about to have a (literal!) glow-up. If I could help it, this unique artifact of Weatherhead Center history would languish in a basement no more. I am someone who will try to fix anything if it is broken. I like the challenge and the experience of seeing all the different mechanisms that interact to produce a functioning machine. Clearly this clock was tucked away for some functional issue, so I took it to my office in refuge for diagnosis and rehabilitation. Upon further inspection, a few issues were apparent. The fluorescent light switch had cracked open and needed service; the cardboard form for the windows was warped and rotted; there was no top molding to the box; and the paper insert indicating the time for the sixty-eight windows was worn to a degree that the clock could not keep time. It was interesting to find that the most vital piece of this ornate unit was made of paper—because of how common it was for these clocks to have the paper wear out, tear, and sag. Apparently as recently as 2011, someone ordered a replacement paper time sheet; but I believed I could rehab it in a different manner with archival tape. ![Collage of several images of the clock in the restoration process.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/2025-05/Clock-collage.jpg) The light was an easy fix with some superglue and electrical tape. The cardboard form was made out of a repurposed foam core sign. The window form and the paper insert were the most time-consuming and tedious parts of the repair: sixty-eight tiny windows to x-acto cut out of strong foam core—I did shed some blood over this—and countless tiny gear holes to cut to size on the rehabilitated paper insert. I made the molding in my home workshop from a reclaimed piece that was conveniently in my basement, ornate enough, and of a similar wood grain. It was less conveniently covered in six or seven layers of paint—nothing that paint stripper, a good scraper, and a couple of podcasts couldn’t take care of. I tried to match the stain as best I could with the collection of random ones that were on hand. It was finally time to reassemble the entire unit. Miraculously, the timekeeping mechanism was free from issue and the saving grace of the project. While putting it back together, I decided to use some spare LED strips in the clock to give it a more twenty-first-century vibe. This added a layer of complexity to the project, but in my opinion, was well worth the effort. With everything back in place, it was time to see if months of sporadic work, neglect, and slapdashery were worth it. My labor proved to be enough and it keeps time very well. Now restored beyond its former glory and given a proper rededication ceremony in the form of my own input and love of all things old, I decided to prominently display it in the front office for the entire Weatherhead Center to appreciate. The symbolism is fitting for a center that did not go by that name thirty years ago, donated by a program that transcended into another form altogether. The clock now reminds us of eras past while keeping present time for all to see. --- ## Look inside the world clock ## More from this issue [### Spring 2025, Volume 39 Number 2 ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2025) ![Graphic of a large dark green W overlaid onto a lighter green background with the words "Centerpiece" and issue number, alongside a close-up of a world clock.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-05/Mailchimp-cover.png?itok=WcFNnBbK) [### Message from the Executive Director ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2025/executive-director) ![Erin Goodman headshot next to her name and title. ](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-05/ED-message-16x9card_0.jpg?itok=bmnE7But) [### Of Note ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2025/of_note) ![Looking up at the clouds, trees, and top of a building on a sunny day.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-05/Of%20Note%20Banner%201920x825.jpg?h=b1067185&itok=zlYPjMbP) [### New Books ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2025/newbooks) ![Collage of a bunch of overlapping book covers set against beige background.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-05/NewBooksCollage.png?itok=oteuUsBN) [### American Foreign Policy in the Trump Era with Ben Rhodes ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2025/feature_manshel) ![Ben Rhodes stands at lectern and speaks to a packed room in Tsai auditorium.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-05/Manshel-Rhodes_025.jpg?itok=gMAu_gCy) [### Drunken Trees & Early Spring: Climate Change in the Subarctic ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2025/feature_price) ![Tilting evergreen trees in a snowy landscape with a blue sky.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-05/DrunkenTrees-Opening.jpg?h=198d5fb9&itok=JFdNatV9) [### Student Programs ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2025/prog_student) ![Group photo of the 2024-2025 Graduate Student Associates and select Weatherhead staff.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-05/ResearchGroups-Students-GSA.jpg?h=225260e9&itok=b_hQxUlp) [### The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies 40th Reunion ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2025/prog_academy) ![Five current and former executive officers, all wearing suits, stand next to each other, and one is holding a Weatherhead Center sign.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-05/ResearchGroups-Academy-EOfficers.jpg?h=8376f7ff&itok=Ldx7kBlp) [### New Faculty Associates ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2025/new_faculty) ![Collage of 13 professionals in circular portrait frames set against a green background.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-05/NewFacultyCollage-2.jpg?itok=rBrZEYq8) [### Photo Gallery for Spring 2025 Centerpiece ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2025/photo_gallery) ![A woman points to a word in her powerpoint presentation.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-05/Events-Special-SKalemli-Ozcan.jpg?h=9d82d84f&itok=BzMm-gqJ) [### In Memoriam: Mala Htun ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2025/in_memoriam_htun) ![Headshot of Mala Htun next to her name and dates of life, 1969-2025.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-05/Memoriam-Htun-16x9card.jpg?itok=HkKiiwrn) [### In Memoriam: Joseph S. Nye (1937–2025) ](/publications/centerpiece/spring2025/in_memoriam_nye) ![Headshot of Joe Nye alongside his name and dates of life, 1937-2025.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8891/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-05/Memoriam-Nye-16x9card.jpg?itok=zd8xkb5o) See also:- [ Centerpiece: Spring 2025 ](/newsletter-issues/centerpiece-spring-2025)