Someone went to a lot of trouble preparing for the junior prom held Jan. 29, 1943 –  someone with a particular interest in pyrography, otherwise known as wood burning.

This pyrographic tool and the junior prom booklet it was used to create are part of a collection of university memorabilia donated to University Archives by Duff Spafford, professor emeritus of political studies. Spafford said he picks up such items wherever he finds them, and these were located several years ago at a local antique store.

In addition to the wood burned cover, the booklet includes the menu for the event as well as a dance card to accompany the music of Larry Peaker and His Orchestra.

Spafford said he has no information about where the substantial wood burning tool came from or who made it, although he speculates that “somebody had a boyfriend in agriculture – they used to take welding courses.”