Inspiration behind the Morris Family Center for Law & Liberty

The News Magazine of HCU

Independence Hall at Houston Christian University stands as an outward and visible symbol of the University’s commitment to teaching our nation’s history and founding principles. The new building will house the academic programming and classes associated with the Morris Family Center for Law & Liberty. The Center is an initiative of the School of Humanities and was started in 2011 under the leadership of the Dean at the time – Dr. Chris Hammons. He and several of his colleagues were concerned about an increasing number of students who had little understanding and interest in American history or our nation’s founding principles. “It was increasingly apparent that fewer and fewer of our students understood the importance of our constitutional system of government,” says Hammons. “The Center was started as an academic initiative to address that problem and make sure our students understood the beauty of our nation’s founding principles.”

The Center began offering academic programming such as special lectures, historic travel programs, and book groups for students as well as workshops for teachers. One of the earliest activities was a mock Constitutional Convention where students would debate ratification of the Constitution. “I got a small grant from a national organization to buy some 18th-century-looking tablecloths, quill pens, parchment, and other decorations and we recreated on campus a room that looked like where the Constitution was created and debated,” says Hammons.

Hammons says the event was a great success and that students were more engaged in the activity than he thought they might have been otherwise. “Being in that room really gave students a sense of time and space which is often lacking in discussions of history,” said Hammons. It was this event that was the genesis for the idea of bringing Independence Hall to HBU.

As Dean of the School of Humanities, Hammons made the Center’s mission a priority and began talking with University leadership about the possibility of creating a building on campus to house the Center’s activities.

“When we began looking at buildings to house the Center for Law & Liberty, Independence Hall was a natural draw,” says Hammons. “Independence Hall is an iconic building that is central to the story of our nation and easily recognizable.” With the blessing of University President Dr. Robert Sloan, Hammons began over a decade-long campaign to raise funds to bring this historic building to the campus. He spoke all over the city, state and even in other states, explaining the importance of the mission of the Morris Family Center for Law & Liberty and the value of the Independence Hall building on a campus as diverse as HCU. Hammons estimates he has spoken to over 100 civic groups across the nation in sharing this vision.

“I just knew this was such a unique opportunity and the timing was right and if I could find the right people who shared this vision, we could make it happen. I just wasn’t sure what that timeline would look like,” says Hammons.

He made a trip to Philadelphia in 2013 at his own expense to secure the blueprints to the original Independence Hall and take a tour of the historic building. Those blueprints became the basis for several years of meetings with potential donors and other interested parties to generate interest in the Independence Hall project.

Hammons envisioned not only a building modeled after Independence Hall but also the construction of additional classrooms and office space in a complex devoted to the teaching of American history and government, as well as creation of a unique event space on campus.

Hammons put together a committee to help promote the idea and one of the instrumental people on that committee was Dr. Stewart Morris, Sr. Unbeknownst to Hammons, at the time, the entire Morris family had a deep love and interest in American history and had commissioned the recreation of several historic buildings across the nation.

“I didn’t know at the time that the Morris family had such a love of historic architecture. I was just hoping they could help me meet people who might support the project,” shared Hammons. He organized and held numerous fundraising events over the years and the Morris family always made a point of attending and helping to promote the project. Hammons says they were early believers in the vision and helped advocate for construction of the building from the very start. “I really feel like the Lord connected us for this project,” says Hammons.

Hammons spent the next five years promoting the project through numerous fundraising events. “I think we had breakfasts, lunches, and dinners with every civic and business group in town,” jokes Hammons. Members of the Morris family and University leadership were often present. After having been involved with the endeavor for a few years, the Morris family decided to make a major gift to the project. With that transformational gift, Hammons says it was much easier to secure additional funding to complete the project.

The Center was formally renamed the Morris Family Center for Law & Liberty to honor the generosity and shared vision of the Morris family. Construction of the complex began in 2021 and was completed by fall of 2022. The main building will be used for special lectures, events, banquets and tours for the public and local school kids. Hammons is developing curriculum for 5th graders (who study the American Revolution as part of their curriculum) to come tour the building and learn about the nation’s history. The complex will also host two classroom buildings. The first classroom building opened for fall classes and a second classroom building is planned for construction in the very near future.

Hammons notes that the instantly recognizable building is now the tallest point on campus and easily visible from the highway. “I’ve always believed that this project was important beyond just the teaching of American history and government. It brings new visibility to the University and beautifies our campus. The illuminated tower at night is beautiful,” Hammons says.

Having worked on the project for over a decade, Hammons, Director of the Morris Family Center for Law & Liberty, says he is glad to see it come to fruition. “Beyond just teaching American history, our nation’s founding principles, and the importance of the free enterprise system, it’s a great feeling to see people smile when they walk into the building.” Hammons hopes the complex will be a place where students and visitors can learn about our nation’s history, discuss important questions about our nation’s future, and leave feeling good about their country