[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 36 (Thursday, February 22, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7769-7770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03630]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0024977; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Mount Holyoke 
College Art Museum, South Hadley, MA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has 
determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the 
definition of sacred objects and/or objects of cultural patrimony. 
Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim 
these cultural items should submit a written request to the Mount 
Holyoke College Art Museum. If no additional claimants come forward, 
transfer of control of the cultural items 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 these cultural items should submit a written request with 
information in support of the claim to the Mount Holyoke College Art 
Museum at the address in this notice by March 26, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Aaron F. Miller, NAGPRA Coordinator, Mount Holyoke College 
Art Museum, 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA 01075, telephone (413) 
538-3394, 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 cultural items under the 
control of the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum that meet the 
definition of sacred objects and/or objects 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 items. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    At some time prior to 1892, one cultural item was removed from an 
unknown location and entered the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum 
collection. No additional information regarding the date or method of 
the accession of the cultural item (MH 3.F.A) is available. The sacred 
object/object of cultural patrimony is a handled earthenware vessel 
with white slip and red and black pigments.
    At some time prior to 1886, one cultural item was removed from an 
unknown location and given to Mount Holyoke College Art Museum by Mary 
Pease. The cultural item (MH 4.F.A) is listed in the Seminary's Book of 
Thanks for that year and the Catalogue of Cabinet of Articles. No 
additional provenance or accession information is available. The sacred 
object/object of cultural patrimony is an earthenware vessel decorated 
with white slip and black pigment.
    At an unknown date in the late 19th or early 20th century, one 
cultural item was removed from an unknown location and acquired by 
Joseph Allen Skinner through unknown methods. The

[[Page 7770]]

cultural item (MH SK K.106) was likely accessioned into the Joseph 
Allen Skinner Museum collection between the museum's opening in 1932 
and Mr. Skinner's death in 1946. Mr. Skinner donated his museum 
collection to Mount Holyoke College, and today it is administered by 
the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum. The sacred object/object of 
cultural patrimony is a wood and hide drum.
    At some time prior to 1936, one cultural item was removed from an 
unknown location. The cultural item (MH SK K.B.22) was accessioned into 
the Joseph Allen Skinner Museum collection on August 30, 1936. No 
additional information regarding the source or method of acquisition is 
available. The sacred object/object of cultural patrimony is a handled 
earthenware vessel with white slip and black pigment.
    In January of 2017, representatives from the Pueblo of San Felipe, 
New Mexico, identified these four cultural items as culturally 
affiliated with San Felipe and as sacred objects/objects of cultural 
patrimony. Based on National NAGPRA definitions of sacred objects and 
objects of cultural patrimony and a general knowledge of these objects 
incorporating sacred imagery and being used in various types of 
ceremonies and/or funerary contexts, the claim for repatriation to the 
Pueblo of San Felipe has merit.

Determinations Made by the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum

    Officials of the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the four cultural items 
described above are specific ceremonial objects 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 four cultural items 
described above have 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 
objects and objects of cultural patrimony and the Pueblo of San Felipe, 
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 
these cultural items should submit a written request with information 
in support of the claim to Aaron F. Miller, NAGPRA Coordinator, Mount 
Holyoke College Art Museum, 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA 01075, 
telephone (413) 538-3394, email [email protected], by March 26, 
2018. After that date, if no additional claimants have come forward, 
transfer of control of the sacred object and/or object of cultural 
patrimony to the Pueblo of San Felipe, New Mexico, may proceed.
    The Mount Holyoke College Art Museum is responsible for notifying 
the Pueblo of San Felipe, New Mexico, that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: February 2, 2018.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2018-03630 Filed 2-21-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P