Ristow graduated with a degree in geography from the University of Wisconsin in 1931.

He went on to earn a master's degree in geography from Oberlin College and a doctorate from Clark University.

Ristow joined the Library of Congress in 1946 and became chief of its map department in 1967.

[1][2] In 1979, Ristow helped establish the Washington Map Society.

The Society gives an award in his name annually to an author of "a paper in the field of cartographic history or map librarianship."