[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 68 (Friday, April 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20883-20884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07604]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0033683; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Presbyterian 
Historical Society, Philadelphia, PA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Presbyterian Historical Society, 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 both a sacred object and an 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 Presbyterian 
Historical Society. 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 Presbyterian Historical 
Society at the address in this notice by May 9, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy J. Taylor, Executive Director, 
Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 
19147, telephone (215) 627-1852, 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 Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia, PA, that 
meets the definition of both a sacred object and an 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

    The Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS) holds in its museum 
collection a ``[c]onch shell used by David Brainerd to call Native 
Americans to worship'' (accession number 638).
    David Brainerd (1718-1747) was an ordained Presbyterian minister 
who served as a missionary to Mohican, Stockbridge, and Delaware 
Indians in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey from 1743 to 1746. 
According to PHS records, PHS acquired the conch shell sometime in the 
late nineteenth century from Sarah E. Marsh, daughter of Reverend 
Cutting Marsh, with Reverend William P. Breed acting as intermediary. 
In 1830, Cutting Marsh (1800-1873), a Presbyterian, began missionary 
work among the Stockbridge in Wisconsin. The one sacred object/object 
of cultural patrimony is a large conch shell.
    According to information provided by the Stockbridge Munsee 
Community, Wisconsin, the conch shell is an object of cultural 
patrimony as well as a sacred object. Relying on oral tradition and 
supported by evidence in written accounts, the Stockbridge Munsee 
Community, Wisconsin posits that Mohican Sachem John Metoxan blew the 
conch shell for worship. Metoxan led 80 Stockbridge-Munsee Community 
ancestors west to Indiana in 1818 and joined the majority of the 
community in Wisconsin in 1822. He became sachem in 1830, the same year 
Reverend Cutting Marsh began his missionary work in Wisconsin.

Determinations Made by the Presbyterian Historical Society

    Officials of the Presbyterian Historical Society have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the one 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 one 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 Stockbridge Munsee 
Community, Wisconsin.

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 Nancy J. Taylor, Executive Director 
Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 
19147, telephone (215) 627-1852, email [email protected], by 
May 9, 2022. After that date, if no additional claimants have come 
forward, transfer of control of the sacred object and object of 
cultural patrimony to the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin may 
proceed.
    The Presbyterian Historical Society is responsible for notifying 
the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin that this notice has been 
published.


[[Page 20884]]


    Dated: April 1, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-07604 Filed 4-7-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P