As a consequence, he returned to the United States, where he resumed his teaching career at Massachusetts Agricultural College during 1884–1885.

In January 1886 he became an assistant to James Hall at the New York State Museum of Natural History in Albany.

[1] He married his first wife, Emma Juel Sill, on September 29, 1887;[3] the couple had one son, Noah T.

He was awarded six honorary degrees and received offers from four universities to chair their departments of geology.

[1] The John Mason Clarke 1877 Fellowship was established by his son Noah to provide income for graduate studies in geology or paleontology.