SAE National Fraternity History
A Long History of Firsts
SAE has a long history of firsts. We were the first fraternity to create a leadership education program. One of the first to eliminate an extended period of pledgeship and an extended activation ritual, and we were one of the first to ban hard alcohol from all events and activities. But, we’re not blazing new trails just for the sake of being able to say “we did it first.” We do things first because the actions we’re taking make a real difference that impacts the lives of real people.
We pride ourselves on the decisions we’ve made. They haven’t been easy. But they’re beyond rewarding. We’re not just a fraternity. We’re a place men go to learn how to be a better person. To build a better world. To pass on better principles to the next generation. This is where men transform from who they are, to who they want to be. SAE is for men who want to take the collegiate experience to a higher level. They will seek out prospects who will do the same and take everything they’ve learned out into the world to be a guiding light to others.
MARCH 9, 1856
We’re one of the country’s oldest and largest fraternities, founded on March 9, 1856, at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Our founders were Noble Leslie DeVotie, Nathan Elams Cockrell, John Barratt Rudulph, John Webb Kerr, Samuel Marion Dennis, Wade Hampton Foster, Abner Edwin Patton, and Thomas Chappell Cook. DeVotie led this contingency, wrote the ritual, created the grip, and chose our name. Rudulph designed the badge. None of our founders were members of any other fraternity, although Noble Leslie DeVotie had been invited to join all of the other fraternities at the University of Alabama before founding Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
100+ Years of Success Behind You!
The University of Montana was founded in 1893, the Montana Beta Chapter of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon National Fraternity at the University of Montana-Missoula was granted a charter on February 12, 1927. The fraternity was founded by men who first established the local fraternity Sigma Alpha. Sigma Alpha was formed secretly in the fall of 1919 and formally announced on January 15, 1922. Five years later they transformed to the National fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon. SAE was closed in 1943 due to WWII, as the vast majority of men were enlisted, and reopened in 1944.
SAE has has proudly produced leaders on campus including Student Body Presidents, Homecoming Kings, Scholarship Athletes, Future Professors, Future Board Members of Various University Disciplines, Future Members of The UofM Foundation, Future Members of SAE Nationals Boards, and leaders in every field of business including politics, medicine, law, high-tech, entrepreneurship, and more!
SAE at University of Montana
The SAE Fraternity Home was architected in the late 1800’s by famed Montana architect, Albert J. (AJ) Gibson, and was constructed between 1899 – 1902. When it was completed, there were no other structures around it including all the way to the UM campus.
A.J. Gibson architected many beautiful homes in the University District of Missoula, as well as many notable commercial structures including the UM Main Hall and Clock Tower, The Missoula County Courthouse, UM Geology building, Math and Physics building, Forestry building, and the Gymnasium, Wilma Theater, and more! Our house was actually featured for many years on the cover of his business brochure highlighting his detailed Queen Anne designs.
True Craftsmanship
The inside and outside were constructed by true craftsmen and features beautiful wood treatments throughout, curved window bays, and a beautiful center stairway curving all the way up to the third floor.
You can see in the picture below that our house was built prior to the city planting the beautiful trees down University Avenue and throughout the University District. The picture was taken from a convertible Ford Model T (look at the shadow of the vehicle at the bottom), after they had just planted the 6’ tall Maple Trees.
The SAE house sits within Greek Row on beautiful and historic University Avenue.
SAE purchased the property from a private owner (William “Billy” Russell) to become the chapter home in 1930, and the fraternity moved in sometime in 1931. We take great pride in this property, and strive to ensure we maintain it with the love and care of the original owners.
The four block walk to campus is absolutely awesome in every season of the year and The Homecoming Parade goes right by our house on University Avenue! With over 7,000 sqft, 15 bedrooms, industrial kitchen amenities, large dining hall, meeting room, living rooms, TV room, laundry and 6 bathrooms, it is uniquely suited for our fraternity and to create memories of a lifetime!
We do not refer to our home as a “frat house”. Our members live-in a “fraternity home” that provides a clean and safe environment that they take great pride in.