Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (Penn Museum) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 199 (Friday, October 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 199 (Friday, October 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 65770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21110]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7557: NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043931; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of Pennsylvania 
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA

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 University of Pennsylvania Museum of 
Archaeology and Anthropology (Penn Museum) intends to repatriate 
certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred objects and 
that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on 
or after November 16, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural items in this notice to Dr. Christopher Woods, Williams 
Director, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and 
Anthropology, 3260 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6324, email 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#13777a617670677c615363767d7d7e666076667e3d7c6174"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="27434e55424453485567574249494a525442524a09485540">[email&#160;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 the 
Penn Museum, and additional information on the determinations in this 
notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the 
summary or related records. The National Park Service is not 
responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    A total of two cultural items have been requested for repatriation. 
The two sacred objects are a red catlinite pipe bowl (PM# NA3942A) and 
a wooden pipe stem (PM# NA3942B) (hereafter referred to as ``the 
pipe''). The pipe is associated with Chief Black Coal (c. 1839-1893), 
an important Northern Arapaho leader and pipe keeper. The pipe was 
given to U.S. Army Lieutenant Patrick Henry Ray (1842-1911) following 
an unidentified council meeting in approximately 1886-1887. The Penn 
Museum purchased the pipe from Lieutenant Ray and his wife, Ada 
Blackman Ray (c. 1864-1936), on March 3, 1908. There is no known 
presence of any hazardous substances.

Determinations

    The Penn Museum has determined that:
    <bullet> The two sacred objects described in this notice are 
specific ceremonial objects needed by a traditional Native American 
religious leader for present-day adherents to practice traditional 
Native American religion, according to the Native American traditional 
knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
    <bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described 
in this notice and the Northern Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River 
Reservation, Wyoming.

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items 
in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified 
in this notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be 
submitted by 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 a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
    Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor 
may occur on or after November 16, 2026. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the Penn Museum must determine the most 
appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint 
repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and 
not competing requests. The Penn Museum is responsible for sending a 
copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian 
organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting 
parties.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

    Dated: October 7, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-21110 Filed 10-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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