michaelr: There are two sources I know of for funds that could be used for a project involving the family. The National Endowment for the Arts and the North Carolina State Arts Council. Call or write them for guidelines to their folk art programs. Usually, the guidelines are fairly specific as to what types of projects are eligible for funding. I would think either an oral history project or a film on the family and its music might qualify. You can find addresses for both agencies on the Net.

While I worked at the Endowment we funded a filmmaker to do a film on Lighten' Hopkins and it was a very good one. That one was funded by the Public Media program because at that time there was no Folk Art program. Good luck!

DougR