Academics

In 1899, Barker began his career at the University of Texas as a history tutor before ascending the professional ladder as an instructor and then as an adjunct professor.^[4] He started a sabbatical in 1901 in order to continue graduate work, at the University of Chicago, the University of Pennsylvania (where he received his doctoral degree in 1908), and Harvard University.^[6] He taught at Radcliffe College concurrently with his post-doctoral studies at Harvard.^[7] He returned to the University of Texas as an associate professor and was promoted to full professor in 1913, a title he retained through 1951.^[4]

Barker's early influences as a young scholar were Lester Gladstone Bugbee and George Pierce Garrison, both University of Texas professors and early organizers of the Texas State Historical Association. In 1901, he published his first article, "The Difficulties of a Mexican Revenue Officer in Texas", which appeared in the January issue of the Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Society. That same year he successfully submitted multiple articles on the Texas Revolution to publications of the Southern Historical Association. He published two more articles in history journals in 1903.^[8]

Barker assumed the chair of the history department at the University of Texas in 1910. At that time, only two other history professors worked for the department. During the first few years of his chairmanship, he recruited six professors to the department, including Walter Prescott Webb. He took on other responsibilities in 1910. That year he was appointed as managing director of the Texas State Historical Association, while also assuming the role as editor of the organization's journal, the Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association.^[9]

Barker also asserted himself as a fundraiser for building a historical archive for the university. He courted a wealthy Confederate Civil War veteran, Major George W. Littlefield, who joined the Board of Regents in 1911. Littlefield remained sympathetic to the southern cause and Barker convinced him that funding for the acquisition of old documents would assist in balancing the narrative. Littlefield's contributions started with an initial $25,000 grant to establish the Littlefield Fund for Southern History, which was followed after his death by a $100,000 bequest.^[10]

Barker also assisted professors Bugbee and Garrison in the acquisition of important Texas history documents for the university's archival collection. These included the Bexar Archives, which document the Spanish and Mexican periods of Texas history; the papers of Stephen F. Austin; and the Texas Declaration of Independence.^[11] Another find for the archives came from J. Evetts Haley, who received a commission from Barker to travel throughout Texas in search of old documents and other artifacts. Haley's most important discovery was later known as the James Harper Starr Collection, which included the only known extant part from the diary of William B. Travis.^[12]

Barker's historical interests extended beyond Texas. He was president of the Mississippi Valley Historical Association in 1923. His editorship of the Southwestern Historical Quarterly lasted for 27 years, until 1937, the same year the University of Texas recognized him as a Distinguished Professor. In addition to scholarly works, such as his biography of Stephen F. Austin in 1926 and his co-editorship of Sam Houston's papers with Amelia W. Williams between 1837 and 1843, Barker also collaborated on several history textbooks.^[13]

Politics

Governor James "Pa" Ferguson attempted to pressure acting University of Texas president William J. Battle into firing six faculty members in 1915. Battle resisted this demand. Ferguson, however, continued to push for these dismissals the next year after Robert A. Vinson received his appointment as president. Frustrated a second time, Ferguson foreshadowed "the biggest bear fight that has ever taken place in the history of Texas".^[14]

Ferguson cut off all state appropriation to the university by a veto during the 1917 legislative session. Barker inserted himself in the feud by protesting Ferguson's nomination to replace the state librarian. Barker stood in resolute defense of the incumbent state librarian, Ernest W. Winkler. As the chair of the university's history department, he was an ex-officio member of the State Library and Historical Commission, a body responsible for vetting and appointing the state librarian. He reviewed Ferguson's nominee, A. F. Cunningham, but concluded in a letter that his lack of experience disqualified him from the position. Barker remitted a copy of the letter to Ferguson. The governor responded directly, making it known that he was insulted and that Barker had created an enemy. Barker became more involved in the broader politics of the university, meeting with alumni and administrators and taking the side of the university in its defense against Ferguson's attacks. Barker survived this dispute; Ferguson did not, as he was impeached and removed from office for reasons unrelated to his feud with the university.^[15]