Barbour continued adding to the university's collections. Many of the fossils that Morrill Hall is now famous for were found under Barbour's direction, for example, the massive mammoth fossils that make up the bulk of Elephant Hall. Together, he and Morrill lobbied for a new building on campus, to serve as a Nebraska State museum. This new building could house and display the extensive collections brought back from the Morrill expeditions. As detailed elsewhere in this exhibit, they got their wish with the building of Morrill Hall.

Barbour also regularly published articles on many subjects of the natural sciences, completing more than three hundred and fifty-five articles and publications. Most of these works were on the subject of palaeontology, but many covered the natural flora and fauna of the state of Nebraska and of the Midwest region. His textbook on palaeontology was used across the country from 1910-1915, and continues to be a referenced work in the field.

In 1903 he was named to the Board of Regents, and organized out-of-state tours for the museum collections, in locations such as St. Louis and the Chicago World's Fair. These tours helped to promote the image of the university of Nebraska, and the collections of Morrill Hall. Barbour was intrinsically entwined with the museum from the beginning, due to his close relationship with benefactor C.H. Morrill. Together, they secured funding for the building of Morrill Hall, while Morrill funded regular field expeditions for the enhancement of the university's collections. Barbour regularly promoted the museum and the role of palaeontology in Nebraska. His reputation as a scientist aided in securing Morrill Hall as an academic institution.

Barbour was also a beloved professor, and raised awareness of geology and the natural sciences as a viable career field. Many of the leading geologists and paleontologists of the day came from his classroom. Bertrand Schultz, the man who would eventually fill Barbour's position as director of Morrill Hall after Barbour's retirement, was mentored by Barbour, and, thanks to his guidance, changed his major to paleontology and went on to make many exciting discoveries in the field, adding to growing knowledge about the distant past. In Schramm's article on Barbour, he describes him as "a beloved gentleman scholar". Indeed, many students wrote that he was one of their favorite personalities at the university, and described his great concern for their learning.

Barbour eventually retired in 1942, although he maintained close ties to the university and continued to be involved in university and Nebraska affairs.