Notice2026-05047
Notice of Inventory Completion: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
Primary source
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Published
March 16, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the American Museum of Natural History 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 91 Issue 50 (Monday, March 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12621-12622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05047]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6988; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042309; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: American Museum of Natural
History, New York, NY
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 American Museum of Natural History 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 April 15, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
in this notice to Nell Murphy, American Museum of Natural History, 200
Central Park West, New York, NY 10024, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cea0a3bbbcbea6b78eafa3a0a6e0a1bca9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="adc3c0d8dfddc5d4edccc0c3c583c2dfca">[email protected]</span></a>.
[[Page 12622]]
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 the
American Museum of Natural History, 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, nine individuals have been
identified. No associated funerary objects are present. In 1911, Carl
Lumholtz, a Norwegian naturalist sold four hairbrushes that he
collected in Arizona to the Museum which accessioned them that same
year. The four hairbrushes are catalogued as ``Papago.'' In 1911, the
AMNH accessioned four hairbrushes that Ms. Mary Lois Kissell collected
in Arizona between 1909-1910 as part of the Huntington Southwest
Expedition. The Museum accessioned these hairbrushes, all of which are
catalogued as ``Papago'' or ``Papago?'' in 1911. 1 hairbrush which is
catalogued as Papago? was found in storage and the acquisition history
is unknown.
While it no longer does so, in the past, the Museum applied
potentially hazardous pesticides to items in the collections. Museum
records do not list specific objects treated or which of several
chemicals used were applied to a particular item. Therefore, those
handling this material should follow the advice of industrial
hygienists or medical personnel with specialized training in
occupational health or with potentially hazardous substances.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation,
cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical
location and acquisition history of the human remains described in this
notice.
Determinations
The American Museum of Natural History has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of nine individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> There is a connection between the human remains described
in this notice and the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona.
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 April 15, 2026. If competing requests
for repatriation are received, the American Museum of Natural History
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. The American Museum of
Natural History 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: March 5, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-05047 Filed 3-13-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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