The Ernest & Francille Wilson African American Library

The Rusan Fellowship honors the legacy, spirit, and scholarly accomplishment of Francille Rusan Wilson and the Rusan family. It also acknowledges the legacy of African American families during the segregation and post-segregation era, who relied on communities of aid to accomplish small and great things. 

The story begins with Francille Wilson's mother, Georgia Tallier Rusan, who stayed with her sister Ione and her husband while attending Columbia University. Their two boys, Wayne and Carl, thought their young aunt was the greatest thing in the world, creating a bond that lasted all their lives. 

Later, when Francille Wilson attended the University of Pennsylvania for her doctorate, Wayne and his wife offered their Philadelphia home as a much-needed refuge. The full circle moment captures the intimacy of communal and scholarly effort - a largely undocumented metanoia of guest rooms, kitchen meals, and the space needed to create and be. 

The Rusan Fellowship provides the same refuge to two scholars per year. It honors the legacy of Francille Rusan Wilson and the Rusan family, and through the Francille Rusan Wilson Project, tells the story of other African American scholars with similar stories. 

For more information, please email rusan-fellowship@takoma.us