Founding Fathers

Following the war, SAE, like much of the south, was depleted and lay in devastation. With only a few chapters remaining at the University of Georgia, University of Virginia, and Columbian College in Washington, D.C., the fraternity faced near extinction. However, through hard work in the years that followed, the brotherhood was not only revitalized but also managed to expand to the West and North. Today, SAE is the largest fraternity in North America with over 225 chapter houses and just shy of 300,000 initiates.

This picture from the early 1960's shows the current house during its construction. The cement truck is parked in what is now the center courtyard.

Florida Upsilon was the 41st SAE chapter established and the oldest fraternity at the University of Florida. The Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chapter House was originally constructed in 1923.  The initial money used to fund construction was donated by the Florida Upsilon brothers themselves. These brothers donated their life insurance policies before their departure to Europe to fight in World War One, and upon their untimely deaths the money was given to the chapter for construction.  The house was located on the corner of University Avenue and 13th street.  It served as the SAE chapter house until 1964, when the current house was constructed.

Currently, the SAE house is located at 2 Fraternity Row on campus adjacent to Woodlawn and Museum Road.

Original Chapter House