[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 76 (Thursday, April 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23496-23497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9434]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2253-665]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Benton County 
Historical Society and Museum, Philomath, OR

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Benton County Historical Society and Museum, in 
consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, has determined that 
the cultural items meet the definition of objects of cultural patrimony 
and repatriation to the Indian tribe stated below may occur if no 
additional claimants come forward. Representatives of any Indian tribe 
that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the cultural 
items may contact the Benton County Historical Society and Museum.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the cultural items should contact the Benton 
County

[[Page 23497]]

Historical Society and Museum at the address below by May 21, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Mary K. Gallagher, Benton County Historical Society and 
Museum, 1101 Main Street, P.O. Box 35, Philomath, OR 97370, telephone 
(541) 929-6230.

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 in the 
possession of the Benton County Historical Society and Museum, 
Philomath, OR, that meet the definition of 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

    The 29 cultural items include: 1 basket mortar; 4 baskets; 1 acorn 
strainer; 1 gathering basket; 2 storage baskets; 10 trinket baskets; 1 
basket lid; 2 basket bottles; 4 basketry cups and saucers; 1 basketry 
candlestick; 1 basketry table mat; and 1 basketry napkin ring. All of 
the items are from the Horner Museum which was established in 1925 on 
the campus of what is now Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR. In 
2005, items from the Horner Museum were acquired by the Benton County 
Historical Society and Museum (BCHS) located in nearby Philomath, OR. 
At the time of the transfer, Oregon State University (OSU) was in the 
process of completing NAGPRA requirements for items from the Horner 
Museum. In the transfer agreement with OSU, the BCHS took physical 
custody all unclaimed NAGPRA items and is now responsible for NAGPRA 
claims for cultural items from the collection.
    All of the above cultural items are from the collection of Mrs. 
James Edmond Barrett. According to notes found in the Horner Museum 
donor file, Mrs. Barrett was a schoolteacher in southwestern Oregon who 
collected these cultural items over a period of 60 years. In 1927, she 
loaned her collection to the Horner Museum at what was then Oregon 
Agricultural College (OAC) to honor her son and daughter-in-law who 
attended OAC. This loan was renewed in 1939 and again in 1947. In 1972, 
the collection was donated to the Horner Museum by Lois Barrett, the 
daughter-in-law of Mrs. James Edmond Barrett. According to the 1934 
catalog cards, 28 of the cultural items are identified, but one item 
has no provenance indicated on the original catalog card. Karuk 
affiliation of the objects was substantiated for 23 of the items by 
Martha Matthewson who acted as a consultant for OSU during the 
inventory process. For five of the cultural items, Ms. Matthewson 
indicated possible Karuk affiliation, but also suggested Yurok, Yokuts 
or Hupa affiliation. For one item, a trinket basket, consultants 
suggested affiliation to the Klamath, Grand Ronde, Warm Springs, Santa 
Rosa Rancheria and Karuk tribes.
    On July 13, 2011, representatives of the Karuk Tribe visited the 
BCHS to view unclaimed cultural items. On August 15, 2011, the BCHS 
received a claim from the Karuk Tribe for the repatriation of 29 
cultural items. The BCHS has reviewed the claim and determined that 
cultural affiliation to the Karuk Tribe is clearly established for 28 
of the cultural items. After a review of additional evidence, the BCHS 
has determined that cultural affiliation to the Karuk Tribe exists for 
all 29 cultural items and that these cultural items meet the definition 
of objects of cultural patrimony.

Determinations Made by the Benton County Historical Society and Museum

    Officials of the BCSM have determined that:
    <bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(D), the 29 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.
    <bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the objects 
of cultural patrimony and the Karuk Tribe (formerly Karuk Tribe of 
California).

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the objects of cultural patrimony should 
contact Mary K. Gallagher, Benton County Historical Society and Museum, 
1101 Main Street, PO Box 35, Philomath, OR, 97370, telephone (541) 929-
6230 before May 21, 2012. Repatriation of the objects of cultural 
patrimony to the Karuk Tribe may proceed after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
    The Benton County Historical Society and Museum is responsible for 
notifying the Karuk Tribe that this notice has been published.

    Dated: April 12, 2012.
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-9434 Filed 4-18-12; 8:45 am]
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