Her mother was an 8th-generation direct descendant of Puritan colonist William Bradford, who came to North America on the Mayflower.

After graduating, Bryan continued her education at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia[3] after receiving the Jessup fellowship.

[4] Later, Bryan studied at the United States National Museum in Washington, D.C.[3] In 1906, Alfred University conferred upon her the honorary degree of Doctor of Science.

[5] At the age of 18, Bryan started working at the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences in 1892, where she would remain for 17 years.

Elizabeth married William Alanson Bryan on March 16, 1909, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Buffalo, New York.