Notice2025-17882
Notice of Inventory Completion: Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
Primary source
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Published
September 16, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, (SNOMNH) has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 177 (Tuesday, September 16, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 16, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 44706]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-17882]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6521; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041076; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of
Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural
History, (SNOMNH) has completed an inventory of human remains and has
determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human
remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this
notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or
after October 16, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
in this notice to Zachary Garrett, NAGPRA Program Coordinator, Sam
Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, 2401
Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, OK 73072-7029, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2953484a4e485b5b4c5d5d69465c074c4d5c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8df7eceeeaecffffe8f9f9cde2f8a3e8e9f8">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA.
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of
SNOMNH, and additional information on the determinations in this
notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in its
inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not
responsible for the determinations in this notice.
Abstract of Information Available
Human remains representing, at least, two individuals have been
identified. The human remains consist of human hair included in two
dolls.
One doll (NAM 09-06-102) was transferred from the University of
Oklahoma Art Museum (now Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art) to the Stovall
Museum of Science and History (now SNOMNH) where it was accessioned in
1982. Records indicate the doll and the hair are Cheyenne or Arapaho,
and cultural affiliation was confirmed through tribal consultation with
the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma.
One doll (NAM 09-06-257) was part of a collection of Cheyenne and
Arapaho objects acquired by Mr. William H. Munger during his residence
at Watonga, OK, as a merchant. Mr. Munger moved into Cheyenne and
Arapaho country in 1892 and opened a store. Mr. Munger passed away in
1926, and in 1947 the collection was donated to SNOMNH by members of
Mr. Munger's family.
In the past, hazardous substances were used to treat the Ethnology
Collection at SNOMNH. The Ethnology Collection in part or whole was
exposed to Paradichlorobenzene (PBD in textile storage-discontinued
around or before 1981), Naphthalene (moth flake packets stored with
textiles-discontinued around 1985), and Vapona (no-pest-strips (active
ingredient: Dichlorvos DDVP) and pyrethrins, placed in cases with
objects, discontinued around 1986). None of these products were ever in
direct contact with objects. Any potential treatments of these objects
by donors are unknown.
The building where the Ethnology collection was previously stored
was subject to fumigation multiple times per year from 1983-1985, using
Vapo-Mist 500, 5% Vapona Insecticide (active ingredient was
dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate (DDVP), and also contained petroleum
distillates and 1,1,1-trichloethane). Chemical remnants may have
remained present in objects, as well as museum cabinets and other
furniture used to store collections.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation,
cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available
about the human remains described in this notice.
Determinations
SNOMNH has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of two individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> There is a connection between the human remains described
in this notice and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma.
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this
notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this
notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian
organizations identified in this notice.
2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian
organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a
preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal
descendant or an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with
cultural affiliation.
Repatriation of the human remains described in this notice to a
requestor may occur on or after October 16, 2025. If competing requests
for repatriation are received, the SNOMNH must determine the most
appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint
repatriation of the human remains are considered a single request and
not competing requests. SNOMNH is responsible for sending a copy of
this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations
identified in this notice and any other consulting parties.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
Dated: September 4, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-17882 Filed 9-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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