Notice2022-07604
Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia, PA
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 8, 2022
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
The Presbyterian Historical Society, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the cultural item listed in this notice meets the definition of both a sacred object and an object of cultural patrimony. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim this cultural item should submit a written request to the Presbyterian Historical Society. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural item to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 68 (Friday, April 8, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 68 (Friday, April 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20883-20884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07604]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0033683; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Presbyterian
Historical Society, Philadelphia, PA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Presbyterian Historical Society, in consultation with the
appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has
determined that the cultural item listed in this notice meets the
definition of both a sacred object and an object of cultural patrimony.
Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim
this cultural item should submit a written request to the Presbyterian
Historical Society. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer
of control of the cultural item to the lineal descendants, Indian
Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may
proceed.
DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to
claim this cultural item should submit a written request with
information in support of the claim to the Presbyterian Historical
Society at the address in this notice by May 9, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy J. Taylor, Executive Director,
Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA
19147, telephone (215) 627-1852, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3d53495c4451524f7d55544e49524f44134d5e484e5c13524f5a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c7a9b3a6beaba8b587afaeb4b3a8b5bee9b7a4b2b4a6e9a8b5a0">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25
U.S.C. 3005, of the intent to repatriate a cultural item under the
control of the Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia, PA, that
meets the definition of both a sacred object and an object of cultural
patrimony under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The
determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native
American cultural item. The National Park Service is not responsible
for the determinations in this notice.
History and Description of the Cultural Item
The Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS) holds in its museum
collection a ``[c]onch shell used by David Brainerd to call Native
Americans to worship'' (accession number 638).
David Brainerd (1718-1747) was an ordained Presbyterian minister
who served as a missionary to Mohican, Stockbridge, and Delaware
Indians in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey from 1743 to 1746.
According to PHS records, PHS acquired the conch shell sometime in the
late nineteenth century from Sarah E. Marsh, daughter of Reverend
Cutting Marsh, with Reverend William P. Breed acting as intermediary.
In 1830, Cutting Marsh (1800-1873), a Presbyterian, began missionary
work among the Stockbridge in Wisconsin. The one sacred object/object
of cultural patrimony is a large conch shell.
According to information provided by the Stockbridge Munsee
Community, Wisconsin, the conch shell is an object of cultural
patrimony as well as a sacred object. Relying on oral tradition and
supported by evidence in written accounts, the Stockbridge Munsee
Community, Wisconsin posits that Mohican Sachem John Metoxan blew the
conch shell for worship. Metoxan led 80 Stockbridge-Munsee Community
ancestors west to Indiana in 1818 and joined the majority of the
community in Wisconsin in 1822. He became sachem in 1830, the same year
Reverend Cutting Marsh began his missionary work in Wisconsin.
Determinations Made by the Presbyterian Historical Society
Officials of the Presbyterian Historical Society have determined
that:
<bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the one cultural item
described above is a specific ceremonial object needed by traditional
Native American religious leaders for the practice of traditional
Native American religions by their present-day adherents.
<bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(D), the one cultural item
described above has ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural
importance central to the Native American group or culture itself,
rather than property owned by an individual.
<bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the sacred
object and object of cultural patrimony and the Stockbridge Munsee
Community, Wisconsin.
Additional Requestors and Disposition
Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim
this cultural item should submit a written request with information in
support of the claim to Nancy J. Taylor, Executive Director
Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA
19147, telephone (215) 627-1852, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#553b21342c393a27153d3c26213a272c7b25362026347b3a2732"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9cf2e8fde5f0f3eedcf4f5efe8f3eee5b2ecffe9effdb2f3eefb">[email protected]</span></a>, by
May 9, 2022. After that date, if no additional claimants have come
forward, transfer of control of the sacred object and object of
cultural patrimony to the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin may
proceed.
The Presbyterian Historical Society is responsible for notifying
the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin that this notice has been
published.
[[Page 20884]]
Dated: April 1, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-07604 Filed 4-7-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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