SAE History

1st Fraternity to…

1. to create a leadership education program.

2. One of the first to eliminate pledging,

3. The first to ban hard alcohol from all events and activities.

Date of Founding

March 9, 1856

Location it was founded

University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

All the Founders Names

Noble Leslie DeVotie

Nathan Elams Cockrell

John Barratt Rudulph

John Webb Kerr

Samuel Marion Dennis

Wade Hampton Foster

Abner Edwin Patton

Thomas Chappell Cook

DeVotie’s Contribution

• led this contingency

• wrote the ritual

• created the grip

• chose our name.

Who designed the badge

John Barratt Rudulph

Were any of the founders apart of other fraternities first?

NO

However, Noble Leslie DeVotie had been invited to join all of the other fraternities at the University of Alabama before founding Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

Along which river did these eight young men discuss the early idea of fraternity?

Black Warrior River

Which Founder died first?

Noble Leslie DeVotie was the first Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) founder to die. As the principal founder of the fraternity, DeVotie died on February 12, 1861, after falling from a steamer while serving as a chaplain, becoming one of the first casualties of the American Civil War. He was 23 years old.

The night these men founded Sigma Alpha Epsilon, they met in a house referred to as what?

The Mansion House

Who was the first president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon

Abner Edwin Patton

Who was the first Secretary of Sigma Alpha Epsilon

John Webb Kerr

Who designed the Coat of Arms?

William Leslie French

Briefly describe what a topos is

A literary report members were required to give in the first years of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

Who was the first man to pledge Sigma Alpha Epsilon?

Newton Nash Clements

What were the first five chapters of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (university and chapter name)?

University of Alabama - Alabama Mu
Tennessee College - Tennessee Nu
UNC Chapel Hill- North Carolina Xi
Georgia Military Institute - Georgia Pi
Murfreesboro College - Tennessee Eta

Where was Sigma Alpha Epsilon's first convention held, and in what year?

Murfreesboro, TN

1858

At this first convention, the fraternity considered many orders of business. One was the matter in which to name its chapters. The convention decided to designate individual chapters by a Greek letter. What was the chosen designation for the founding chapter? Why was this Greek letter chosen?

Alabama Mu, because it is the mother chapter

Mercer SAE designation

Georgia Psi

Mercer SAE founding

September 1870 and the first greek letter fraternity on campus

The Civil War nearly devastated Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Explain the story of Lucy Pattie, including the Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter she associated with. Why is this story relevant to our fraternity?

At Kentucky Military Institute (Kentucky Chi), there was a brother named John B. Kent. He knew that he would be going to war, so he entrusted all the ritual documents with a girl named Lucy Pattie. He told her to never share these documents to anyone, unless they gave her "this grip of the hand." John Kent never returned, for he died at the Battle of Shiloh.

Years later, Albert McMahan gave her the grip and she handed over the papers. She is our only woman member.

There was one chapter in the fall of 1865, at the conclusion of the Civil War that carried on as active, every other chapter was dead at this time. Which chapter was this?

Washington City Rho

Which Convention, and in what year was it held, is considered to be the "convention that saved SAE from certain death?"

1877 in Richmond, Virginia

Who was Harry S. Bunting, and why is he significant to Sigma Alpha Epsilon?

Harry Bunting was 16 when he was initiated at Tennessee Zeta. He was known as the Great Expansionist, taking the fraternity from 27 chapters to 54. He also stated The Hustler. He discovered the original minutes of Mother Mus at Clements's house. He single handedly founded the Illinois Psi-Omega chapter at Northwestern University. It was there that he recruited William Levere

What publication did Harry S. Bunting first publish in 1892, "a secret quarterly bulletin for the conservation of energy, comparison of methods, and propagation of new ideas" of the fraternity, the first esoteric journal of Sigma Alpha Epsilon?

The Hustler

Who published The History of Sigma Alpha Epsilon in 1911?

William C. Levere

What U.S president is an honorary initiate and at what chapter

Williams McKinley; Ohio Sigma at Mount Union

William Levere was an undergraduate brother at what chapter?

Northwestern University

What is the name of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon headquarters, and why was it named that way? What is it a memorial to?

- Levere Memorial Temple
- Levere always wanted a national headquarters—he mentioned it at the 1920 Convention in St. Louis. When he died, he left $25,000 to be put towards building a national headquarters. In fact, he purchased the house on the lot as well as the lot next door in order to build the headquarters.
- To Sigma Alpha Epsilon causalities of war

Who was the architect?

Arthur Knox

Who was the building committee chairman?

Alfred Kuno Nippert

Who was the man responsible for the artwork at the headquarters?

Johannes Waller

What brother is credited with the conception of Leadership School? And what chapter?

John O. Moseley, Oklahoma Kappa (University of Oklahoma)

Who was Lauren Foreman, and why is he significant to Sigma Alpha Epsilon

In addition to being one of the Three Luminaries of AE, he served as Eminent Supreme Archon during the Levere Temple Construction and through Levere's death. He took over the top leadership role that Levere held for decades. He carried the fraternity through the Great Depression and resumed the visitation practices that Levere started. He would then become the Archivist of AE.

Who was Albert J. Schoth, and why is he significant to Sigma Alpha Epsilon?

He was the traveling secretary during the Great Depression. He visited chapter after chapter to keep AE strong through the tough times. He kept chapter ties with nationals strong.

List the Gentlemen of SAE in the 1930's referred to as The Big Three

John O. Mosely, Alfred Kuno Nippert, and Lauren Foreman.

Number of total chapters nationally

220+ (according to their official website)

Mascot

Lion

Goddess

Minerva (Roman godess; wisdom)

4 main symbols

Lion, Minerva, fleur-de-lis, phoenix

Colors

Royal purple and gold

Flower

violets

Flag

Purple field with a gold canton containing "ΦΑ" (Phi Alpha), with a circle of eight gold stars.

What is our motto?

Phi Alpha

What is our creed?

The True Gentleman

The burning incident

After 1929 the chapter burnt the house down for insuance and built a new house w the money

The acronym SAE stands for

‘Everlasting Bond of Brothers,' highlighting the fraternity's commitment to brotherhood and lifelong connections.

Crest and Its Significance

• The crest features 22 Fleur de lis, representing the first 22 founding members, with one hidden Fleur de lis symbolizing the fraternity's ongoing legacy.

• Each of the four quadrants of the crest has specific meanings: three Greek crosses signify loyalty, flames represent the sacred flame of friendship, a Fleur de lis with red drops signifies the incorruptibility of a true gentleman, and the Phoenix symbolizes rebirth.

Civil War Impact:

The fraternity was severely impacted by the Civil War, as many members fought for the Confederacy, and nearly 70 members lost their lives, including founder Noble Leslie DeVotie, who is considered one of the first to die in the conflict.

Notable Alumni

U.S. President William McKinley, author William Faulkner, and NFL Hall of Famer Troy Aikman.

Paddy Murphy

a legendary figure tied to Sigma Alpha Epsilon, was a respected bootlegger in Al Capone's crime syndicate during 1920s Chicago. Known for his quick wit and fearsome reputation, Murphy operated in the shadows of the Prohibition era.

Philanthropy

Children’s Miracle Network

Paddy Murphys Death

According to Legend, Paddy Murphy was a Chicago Mobster and SAE brother who was shot and killed by another SAE brother, Chief Investigator of the Prohibition, Elliot Ness.

True Gentleman

• First adopted by SAE in 1930 by ESA Walter B. Jones. Used at motto during Leadership School with John Moseley.

• Many claimed Moseley wrote it, other thought it to be written by Anonymous author.

• SAE Historian Joe Walt discovered that US Naval Academy in Annapolis printed it in their manual, discovered John Walter Wayland as the author.

• In 2001, officially became creed of SAE and was printed in the Phoenix.

Civil War Overview

• 15 chapters enlisted entire rosters.
• Six founding fathers fought in war, 3 died (DeVotie - drowning, Patton - battle, Dennis - imprisoned).
• Ten of the original twenty-two Alabama initiates died in war.
• 70 of 369 Brothers died for Confederacy.
• Seven SAE's fought for Union.
• Washington City Rho and Kentucky Iota were only chapters to have men on both sides.
• Only chapter that survived the war was Washington City Rho.
• After the war ended, John Bagby and Robert Atkinson revived SAE at Virginia.
o University of Virginia
o University of Georgia
o Ole Miss
o University of Louisiana
o Tennessee-Cumberland
• First northern fraternity revived after Civil War was Pennsylvania College (Gettysburg) as Pennsylvania Delta

Post Civil-War

• South destroyed by the war.
• SAE depended on the men returning to the school.
• Washington City Rho only of fifteen chapter to survive.
• Two men decided to create UVa chapter, acting grand Chapter.
• SAE grew larger after National Convention, held in Murfreesboro, TN.

Revitalization

• SAE was revived, but not thriving.
• Kentucky Chi had enough members.
• Robert Wildberger saved many SAE chapters post-war.
• Beta Theta Pi, Delta Tau Delta, and Alpha Tau Omega (and other fraternities) wanted to absorb SAE.

Northern Expansion

• In 1883 the Grand Chapter chartered the first Northern Chapter at Pennsylvania College (Gettysburg).
• No one reacted until 1884 Convention.

Harry S. Bunting

• Initiated in 1886 as a 16-year-old at Tennessee Zeta with his brothers.
• Pre-Bunting, SAE had 49 chapters (many near death).
• Bunting Boys founded nearly 50 chapters, doubling the total number.
o 24 of those founded in the North, above the Mason-Dixon.
• Between 1887 and 1894, SAE went from 27 to 54 chapters.
• Found original minutes from Alabama Mu (from Newton Nash Clemens' attic in Tuscaloosa), resurrected "Mother Mu."
• Created "The Hustler" (renamed "Phi Alpha").
• Was a reporter in the Chicago Area.
• Founded the Northwestern University chapter in Evanston (Illinois Psi-Omega) in 1894.
o Current home of SAE Nationals.
• Initiated William C. Levere as a chapter member.

Consolidation

• Rapid expansion was over.
• Many chapters affluent enough to purchase or finance housing.
• In 1895 SAE proposed giving each brother a number to emphasize national unity.
• William McKinley was inaugurated as honorary member in 1897, given pin #1.

William C. Levere

• Served as city magistrate, member of Illinois Legislature and historian.
• Middle name is "Conlon".
• Voted ESDA in 1900 the served back-to-back terms at ESA in 1904 and 1906.
• Known as "Greatest SAE of all time."
• Levere dedicated his life to research to create "The History of SAE."
• Served SAE positions for 36 years of his life (record).
• Found John Barratt Rudolph (last living founding father), brought to 50th Anniversary.
• Laid groundwork for National Headquarters in Evanston, IL.
• Too fat to join any branch of military during WWII at 44-years-old.
• Levere died in 1927, left $27,000 (all of his funds) to SAE.

World War I

• USA and SAE both entered the war in 1917.
• 8,000 SAE brothers fought in the war.
• Two pledges initiated in Europe during the war
• The first, Walter Jepson from Nevada, in Tours, France in December of 1918.
• The second, Lloyd Brown from Madison, in Andernach, German in February 8th, 1919 at the castle on the Rhine River.

The Roaring 20's

• After WWI, SAE was very strong.
• SAE centralized in 1920 at Evanston, IL, created Supreme Council.
• National Endowment kept chapters alive.
• 119 chapters in 1920, 10 more chapters founded during the 1920's.

The Great Depression

• SAE did not lose a single chapter during the Great Depression, but enrollment numbers did slow down.
• Expanded with seven additional chapters during 1930's.

Alfred K. Nippert

• Loren Foreman (ESA 1927) appointed Nippert to Chairman.
• Nippert raised over $400,000.
• Temple was completed in December of 1930 (1856 Sheridan Road), located in Evanston, IL.
• Largest comprehensive college fraternity library.
• Stained glass provided by Tiffany's.
• Panhellenic Room and Chapel.

John O. Moseley

• Professor of Classics at University of Oklahoma.
• Former Rhodes scholar and Philosopher.
• Started Leadership School when he was ESA.
• Persuaded Oklahoma alumni to fund school.

Leadership School

• First leadership school took place in Evanston, IL in 1935.
• Has taken place every year since 1935 except once during WWII.
• In 2006, school was moved from Evanston to a cruise ship.

World War 2

• 19,000 SAEs fought in WWII.
• 870 brothers died.
• Navy promised to have men join fraternities.
• Chapters dwindled in size, but remained active.

Cabanatuan Alpha

• 20 SAEs were captured.
• First chapter meeting 2/21/1943.
• Met 11 times between February-October, 1943.
• 8 more joined original 20.
• Pledged Cpt. Phillip H. Meier (Pomona, 1939).
• Made brother badge out of a silver Phillipine Peso, took several months.
• Initiated Meier in pitch-black hospital chapel Oct. 1st, 1942. Recited ritual from memory.
• Only 12 of 28 survived.

John Walter Wayland

• Author of True Gentleman
• Posthumously initiated in 66th Leadership School.

The True Gentleman more info

• First adopted by SAE in 1930 by ESA Walter B. Jones. Used at motto during Leadership School with John Moseley.
• Many claimed Moseley wrote it, other thought it to be written by Anonymous author.
• SAE Historian Joe Walt discovered that US Naval Academy in Annapolis printed it in their manual, discovered John Walter Wayland as the author.
• In 2001, officially became creed of SAE and was printed in the Phoenix.

2 Lions outside front door.

• Leo on the left (Crown Royal and Southern Comfort).
• Rex on the right (7 pennies and 1 dime).