After Herbermann graduated from the Jesuit college of St. Francis Xavier in New York, he became a member of the faculty there. This post he held for eleven years. In 1869, when he was only 29 years old, he accepted a position on the faculty of the City College of New York, where he taught Latin and Latin Literature (1869-1914) and served as librarian (1873-1914). Herbermann's first important advance in American Catholic scholarship came in 1905, when he was chosen editor-in-chief of the Catholic Encyclopedia, a post which he held until the completion of the monumental work in 1914.
Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 1: Aachen-Assize
Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 2: Assizes-Browne
Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 3: Brownson-Clairvaux
Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery
Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 5: Diocese-Fathers of Mercy
Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 6: Fathers of the Church-Gregory XI
Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 7: Gregory XII-Infallability
Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 8: Infamy-Lapparent
Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 9: Laprade-Mass Liturgy
Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 10: Mass Music-Newman
Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 11: New Mexico-Philip
Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 12: Philip II-Reuss
Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 13: Revelation-Stock
Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 14: Simony-Tournon