Dr. Walter W. Ristow Prize

Scholarship Sponsored by Washington Map Society

Introduction Since 1994 the Washington Map Society has awarded a prize in memory of the late Dr. Walter W. Ristow—former chief of the Geography & Map Division at the Library of Congress and a co‑founder and first president of the Washington Map Society—to recognize outstanding scholarship in the history of cartography. The award The winning entrant receives: - $1,500 in cash - a three‑year membership in the Washington Map Society - publication of the winning essay in The Portolan, the Society’s journal At the judges’ discretion one or more additional papers may receive Honorable Mention. Who is eligible Applicants may be: - full‑ or part‑time undergraduate students - graduate students - individuals in their first year of doctoral studies Eligibility is open to students at accredited colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. The Ristow Prize is intended to support and encourage scholars who are beginning work in the field of the history of cartography. What may be submitted - Original research papers or papers completed to satisfy coursework, on topics in the history of maps. - Manuscripts must be written in English and may use any citation/documentation style chosen by the author. - Maximum length: 7,500 words. - Inclusion of clear maps, figures, and other graphics that support the text is encouraged. - Entries may have been presented at conferences or entered in other contests, but they must NOT have been published nor be under consideration for publication at the time of submission. Submission format and deadline - Convert the paper to a Word or PDF file and submit by email to Deepak Bhattasali, Chair, Ristow Prize Committee: RistowPrize@Gmail.Com. - Submission must be received by 12:59 PM EST on the stated deadline date. - Manuscript formatting should follow the "Guidelines for Submission of Articles" for The Portolan. Identification and anonymity - Include a title page ONLY with the entrant’s name, mailing address, telephone number, e‑mail address, institutional affiliation (school and department), and academic status. - Do not place the author’s name on any other page of the submission; all other pages should be anonymous. Judging process and criteria Submissions are evaluated independently by at least three reviewers with appropriate expertise in the history of cartography (often drawn from Washington Map Society membership). The identities of the judges are kept confidential. Papers are judged on three broad criteria: 1. Importance of the research — e.g., originality and the use of relevant sources. 2. Quality of the research — e.g., factual accuracy and reliability of sources. 3. Writing and presentation — e.g., clarity, organization, and command of cartographic terminology. Questions about the competition may be directed to the Ristow Prize Committee at the email above.