1884-1885 – He married Mary Sheldon while he was still in school.

1889-1891 – Barnes received an A.B. from Indiana University and an M.S. from Cornell.

         – He held a position as Professor of History at Indiana University.

         – Earl Barnes was the Professor of Education at Stanford University.

1900 – Barnes married his second wife Anna Kohler, by whom he had four children –Joseph, Howard, Bernard, and Mary.  

         – He was appointed staff lecturer, London Society for Extension of University Teaching for the year, but after that supported himself as a free-lance lecturer and writer.