The systolic blood pressure measurement, a foundational component of modern deception detection, originated from collaborative research efforts in the early twentieth century. Elizabeth Holloway Marston, an attorney and psychologist, contributed significantly to these initial studies while simultaneously navigating an academic landscape that often limited opportunities for female researchers at prestigious institutions such as Harvard University.
Academic Foundations and Early Research
Born in 1893 in Sulby, Isle of Man, Elizabeth Holloway Marston moved to the United States during her youth. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Mount Holyoke College in 1915. By 1918, she completed her law degree at the Boston University School of Law, graduating as one of only three women in her class. During her time at Radcliffe College of Harvard University, she engaged in research alongside her husband, William Moulton Marston, focusing on the correlation between blood pressure and deception. This work eventually informed the systolic blood-pressure test, a precursor to the contemporary polygraph.
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Marston maintained a wide-ranging professional career that spanned several decades. She served as an editor for McCall's and the Encyclopædia Britannica. Additionally, she indexed documentation for the first fourteen Congresses and lectured on ethics, psychology, and law at various American universities. In 1931, she co-authored the textbook Integrative Psychology with William Moulton Marston and C. Daly King. In 1933, she began a long-standing tenure at Metropolitan Life Insurance, where she remained employed until reaching age sixty-five.
Family Dynamics and Cultural Legacy
The Marston household included Olive Byrne, who joined the family as a partner in the late 1920s. Elizabeth Marston had two children, Peter and Olive Ann, while Byrne bore two children, Byrne and Donn, whom the couple legally adopted. Following the death of William Moulton Marston in 1947, Elizabeth and Olive Byrne continued living together until Byrne's death in 1990. Marston is widely recognized as a primary inspiration for the comic book character Wonder Woman, a concept developed in the family's suburban home.
Later Years and Remembrance
Elizabeth Holloway Marston lived to be 100 years old, passing away in New York City on March 27, 1993. Her life and creative contributions were dramatized in the 2017 film Professor Marston and the Wonder Women. In 2018, the Minor Planet Center honored her memory by naming Asteroid 101813 Elizabethmarston.
Fast facts
- Born: 1893, Sulby, Isle of Man
- Died: 1993, New York City
- Education: Mount Holyoke College, Radcliffe College, Boston University School of Law
- Marriage: William Moulton Marston (1915)
- Professional Role: Psychologist, Attorney, Editor
- Notable Publication: Integrative Psychology (1931)
- Legacy: Inspiration for Wonder Woman
- Asteroid named in memory: 101813 Elizabethmarston
Questions readers ask
Was Elizabeth Holloway Marston the inspiration for Wonder Woman?
Yes, she is credited as a major inspiration for the character and was involved in the discussions during the comic's creation.
What was her contribution to the polygraph?
She collaborated with her husband, William Moulton Marston, on research concerning the correlation between systolic blood pressure and deception.
Achievements
- Educated at Boston University School of Law, Harvard University and Mount Holyoke College
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