Barker was born in Chicago where his parents were visiting on business, but his true home was Moylan, Pennsylvania. He was educated at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Haverford College and he eventually earned a Ph.D. in Greek from the University of Pennsylvania. Barker initially taught Greek at Haverford and served as assistant professor of fine art at Swarthmore. For eight years he served the public schools of Wilmington, Delaware as director of art education.

In 1926 he discovered lithography and an ability to do on stone what he was used to doing with charcoal. In 1927, Barker met master lithographer Bolton Brown with whom he studied and became devoted to lithography. He was intent on recording the landscapes and farms of his native area. In 1934, he was given a solo show at the Smithsonian.

View All Barker Prints by Title
View All Barker Prints by Thumbnail