Alumni Recognition Center & Museum
Your story is part of Valley’s story.
Step into a gathering place built for alumni, where more than a century of Missouri Valley traditions, people, and memories are preserved, dating back to 1906.
Plan your visit
Find us in historic Baity Hall.
Location: Baity Hall, third floor
Opened: 2025
Collection: Memorabilia dating back to 1906
Address: 500 East College Street, Marshall, Missouri 65340
About the center
A time capsule of Valley traditions.
The Alumni Recognition Center and Museum opened in 2025 on the third floor of historic Baity Hall. It gives alumni a place to gather and gives the university’s treasured memorabilia a permanent home.
With items dating back to 1906, the center captures the traditions that make Missouri Valley University distinctive. Every artifact tells a story that honors our past and inspires our future. It’s one of the many ways we celebrate our alumni and encourage the next generation of Vikings.
From the collection
Every artifact tells a story.
Meet a few of the people and pieces that shaped the Valley experience, from early student leaders to the yearbooks that recorded generations of campus life.
Class of 1912
Bessie Odell and the Bairdeans
Bessie Odell was an active member of the Bairdeans Literary Society, a prominent student organization known for winning inter-society debates. While she attended Missouri Valley College, the Bairdeans were often recognized for strong oratory and intellectual engagement, reflecting the academic spirit of the era.
Featured in the 1912 yearbook, her story reflects a long tradition of leadership, scholarship, and student involvement that still shapes the Missouri Valley experience today.
Class of 1897
William Ira “Pop” Ferguson
William Ira Ferguson enrolled in the preparatory academy in 1890 and earned his bachelor’s degree from Missouri Valley College in 1897. Known to his students as “Pop,” he spent more than 50 years teaching and mentoring generations of Valley students. He officially retired in 1966 but kept serving as a substitute instructor until age 95.
Ferguson is credited with naming our athletic teams the “Vikings” and coining the phrase “Valley Will Roll.” His personal Bible, on display in the museum, offers a tangible connection to his life, his values, and his lasting impact.
1907–2011
Sabiduría, the Valley yearbook
First printed in 1907, Sabiduría is our historic yearbook. The Spanish word means “wisdom”: deep understanding, sound judgment, and insight gained through experience. The collection spans 1907 to 2011, preserving generations of student life, traditions, and campus history.
Find your class year in print or digital editions at the Murrell Library & Academic Support Center, or browse online through the Missouri Valley Digital Archives.
Come home to Valley history.
Visit the Alumni Recognition Center and Museum on the third floor of Baity Hall and reconnect with the traditions that shaped your Missouri Valley story.