[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17479-17480]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07396]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-17697; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Logan Museum of 
Anthropology, Beloit College, Beloit, WI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Logan Museum of Anthropology, 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 sacred object and 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 Logan Museum of 
Anthropology. 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 Logan Museum of Anthropology 
at the address in this notice by May 1, 2015.

ADDRESSES: William Green, Director, Logan Museum of Anthropology, 
Beloit College, 700 College St., Beloit, WI 53511, telephone (608) 363-
2119, email [email protected].

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

[[Page 17480]]

Logan Museum of Anthropology that meets the definition of sacred object 
and 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

    In 2006, the estate of Rita Gaples donated a mask (catalog number 
RG 321) to the Logan Museum of Anthropology. Associated records 
indicate Ms. Gaples acquired the mask from Shango Galleries in Dallas, 
TX in 2005. The prior owner was Ronald Slowinski. It is not known when, 
how, or from whom Mr. Slowinski acquired the mask. Shango Gallery 
records identify the mask as a Jemez Apa' Kachina mask and indicate a 
date of manufacture of ca. 1930, though the records contain no 
rationale for this date.
    The mask is cylindrical in shape, with a flat base and two 
protruding ears. The mask is made of leather, stitched with cotton 
thread. On each ear, a rectangular piece of abalone shell is attached 
to the front surface by a leather thong through a perforation in the 
ear. Two sticks are secured with leather lacing to the top of the mask. 
The overall dimensions of the mask with the sticks are 16 inches in 
height and 19 inches in width. The front of the mask has perforations 
for the eyes and the mouth; the mouth is surrounded on the inside by 
pin-hole size perforations. The front of the mask is painted green, 
thinning or fading at the top. The eyes are surrounded by black side-
facing triangles and the mouth by a small, circular rim of black paint. 
One red and one yellow band, both bordered in black, extend along the 
base of the mask and continue along the side and back toward the face, 
just below the eyes. The base of the mask shows wear from material that 
was probably attached as a collar. Four sets of leather ties are 
attached along the base and two long leather ties are attached from the 
inside. Stitching, covered by paint, extends vertically through the 
center of the back of the mask. The back of the mask is painted white, 
superimposed by images of three corn plants painted in black. The stem 
of each plant forms a toothed rake. The top of the mask is unpainted 
leather, and the stitching that attaches the top to the cylinder is not 
painted over, indicating the top was attached to the mask after the 
cylinder was built and painted. The top has pencil marks on the edges, 
which indicate where the pattern was drawn before the piece was cut. A 
letter ``R'' and the letters ``RC'' are painted in red on the interior 
of the top. The paint overall is matte in finish, flaky, and abrades 
easily. Brush marks are visible except in the green portion of the 
face, which appears to have been sprayed on. The corn images appear to 
have been painted over a previous layer of paint. Some of the previous 
layer is visible and apparently was also painted with corn stalks. The 
ears appear to have many layers of paint as evident by flaking red 
paint and green paint underneath.
    Both long sticks fastened to the top of the mask with leather ties 
are carved at one end into three segments; each segment is painted 
yellow, red, or brown. A small remnant of feather down is present on 
the leather. Also on top of the mask is an open appendage with a finial 
made of corn husk wrapped with cotton thread embedded with remnants of 
green pigment.
    The mask is incomplete in several respects, as it lacks the collar, 
top band, painted top, and feathers of Jemez Apa' masks. However, masks 
were repeatedly renewed, and the ``missing'' or unfinished features of 
this mask may indicate it was collected while undergoing or awaiting 
renovation.
    Consultation with the Pueblo of Jemez included a visit from Jemez 
representatives in 2010. Consultation and published sources demonstrate 
that the mask is culturally affiliated with the Pueblo of Jemez. Jemez 
Kachina masks play an active role in the religious life of the 
community. They are used in religious practice and are owned and cared 
for by religious societies rather than individuals. They are considered 
sacred and living persons--friends and family members--rather than 
objects. These masks cannot be alienated, appropriated, or conveyed by 
any individual regardless of whether or not the individual is a member 
of the Pueblo of Jemez.

Determinations Made by the Logan Museum of Anthropology

    Officials of the Logan Museum of Anthropology have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the 1 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.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(D), the 1 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.
     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 Pueblo of Jemez, New 
Mexico.

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 William Green, Director, Logan Museum of 
Anthropology, Beloit College, 700 College St., Beloit, WI 53511, 
telephone (608) 363-2119, email [email protected], by May 1, 2015. 
After that date, if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer 
of control of the sacred object and object of cultural patrimony to the 
Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico, may proceed.
    The Logan Museum of Anthropology is responsible for notifying the 
Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico, that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 13, 2015.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2015-07396 Filed 3-31-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P