Tolman was born in West Newton, Massachusetts and studied chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, receiving his bachelor's degree in 1903 and Ph.D. in 1910 under A. A. Noyes.
Tolman lahir di West Newton, Massachusetts dan mempelajari teknik kimia di Institut Teknologi Massachusetts, meraih gelar sarjana-nya pada 1903 dan Ph.D. pada 1910 dibawah bimbingan A. A. Noyes.