4312-52
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0033205; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Beloit College, Logan Museum of
Anthropology, Beloit, WI
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: Beloit College, Logan Museum of Anthropology 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 unassociated funerary objects. 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 Beloit College,
Logan Museum of Anthropology. 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 Beloit College, Logan Museum of
Anthropology at the address in this notice by [INSERT DATE 30 DAYS AFTER DATE OF
PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicolette B. Meister, Director, Logan
Museum of Anthropology, Beloit College, Beloit, WI 53511, telephone (608) 363-2305, email
meistern@beloit.edu.
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 Beloit College, Logan Museum of Anthropology,
Beloit, WI, that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects 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
Sometime between 1875 and 1889, 26 cultural items were removed from San Nicolas
Island in Ventura County, CA. The cultural items were removed by Reverend Stephen Bowers.
Bowers made multiple collecting trips to San Nicolas Island, during which he removed thousands
of cultural items. He later sold those items to museums and collectors. Between 1880 and 1881,
Reverend Bowers owned two newspapers in Wisconsin, one in Clinton and one in Beloit, and
they provide the context for his sale of cultural items to the Logan Museum. The 26 unassociated
funerary objects are 13 modified shells (965.01; 965.02; 965.03; 965.04; 965.05; 965.06; 965.07;
965.08; 965.09; 965.10; 965.11; 966.01; 966.02), six unmodified shells (1008.01; 1008.02;
1008.03; 1009.01; M.05.0085), two modified shells or bone (907), and five stone pestles (18204;
18205; 18206; 18207; 18208). One pestle (18208) is currently missing from museum collections,
but upon being located, it will be transferred with the other cultural items listed in this notice.
Based on archeological information, a relationship of shared group identity may
reasonably be traced between the following Indian Tribes and the people who occupied San
Nicolas for at least 10,000 years: La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians, California [previously listed
as La Jolla Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the La Jolla Reservation]; Pala Band of Mission
Indians [previously listed as Pala Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pala Reservation,
California]; Pauma Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pauma & Yuima Reservation,
California; Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pechanga Reservation, California;
Rincon Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of Rincon Reservation, California; Santa Ynez Band of
Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation, California; and the Soboba Band of
Luiseno Indians, California. Hereafter, these Indian Tribes are referred to as “The Tribes.”
Determinations made by Beloit College, Logan Museum of Anthropology

Officials of Beloit College, Logan Museum of Anthropology have determined that:


Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 26 cultural items described above are reasonably
believed to have been placed with or near individual human remains at the time of death
or later as part of the death rite or ceremony and are believed, by a preponderance of the
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native American
individual.



Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be
reasonably traced between the unassociated funerary objects and The Tribes.

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 Nicolette B. Meister, Logan Museum
of Anthropology, Beloit College, 700 College Street, Beloit, WI 53511, telephone (608) 3632305, email meistern@beloit.edu, by [INSERT DATE 30 DAYS AFTER DATE OF
PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. After that date, if no additional claimants
have come forward, transfer of control of the unassociated funerary objects to The Tribes may
proceed.
Beloit College, Logan Museum of Anthropology is responsible for notifying The Tribes
that this notice has been published.

Dated: January 3, 2022.

Melanie O’Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-00226 Filed: 1/7/2022 8:45 am; Publication Date: 1/10/2022]