Sigma Phi Epsilon was founded at Richmond College in 1901. Richmond College consisted of about 200 students, of which about 40% were fraternity members. In the fall of 1900, Carter Jenkens transferred to Richmond College from Rutgers University where he had been a member of Chi Phi Fraternity. There was no Chi Phi chapter at Richmond College. But, he found five men interested in starting a new chapter of Chi Phi at Richmond College. They applied for a charter, but the college already had 5 fraternities.

The six young men decided to start their own local fraternity. These first six men included: Carter Jenkens, William Carter, Thomas Wright, William Phillips, Benjamin Gaw, and William Wallace. Jenkens was the only one who knew what a fraternity was, so he was in charge of the plans for the fraternity. Jenkens looked for a philosophy to base the ideals of this new fraternity on. He found in the Bible what he called, "The greatest truth the world has ever known." The name of Sigma Phi Epsilon was born in the philosophy of love - the only foundation on which the world can have peace. Our fraternity was founded on this principle.

In the initial stages of forming the Fraternity, the original members found six others who were also searching for a campus fellowship that neither the fraternity system or the campus could provide. The next six members include: Lucian Cox, Richard Owens, Edgar Allen, Robert McFarland, Franklin Kerfoot, and Thomas McCaul. On November 1, 1901, the twelve founding fathers printed a roster of the Fraternity and Brother Jenkens was listed as the first member. Today, Sigma Phi Epsilon is the nation's largest fraternity.