In 1949 his daughter Marta died at age 24. In 1952 Mestrovic signed an agreement with the Yugoslavian government to give the Croatian people his homes in Split and Zagreb, Crikvine, the Mestrovic Memorial, over 400 sculptures and numerous drawings. In 1954 he became a citizen of the United States at a ceremony conducted by President Eisenhower at the White House. He moved to Notre Dame in 1955, and the president of the university, Father Hesburgh, had a studio built for him on campus.
Before he died Mestrovic went to Yugoslavia one last time in order to visit his sick friend Cardinal Stepinac, who by that time had been released from prison but was under strict house arrest. During his brief stay he also spent time with Marshal Tito. At the request of various churches, convents, cities, towns and villages, Mestrovic sent 59 statues from the United States to Yugoslavia. At the end of his life he felt this was the only way that he could show his love and speak words of hope and courage to his people, with whom he wanted to be united after death by burial in his native land.
On September 26, 1961, his son Tvrtko died in Zagreb. The magnitude of his grief was uttered in clay, the only language with which he could express his feelings. He worked on four pieces dedicated to Tvrtko and Marta until death came to set him free.
Index :
Mestrovic, Ivan, 1883-1962. Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1475-1564. Croatia -- History. Art -- History -- 20th century. Art, Modern -- 20th century. World War, 1939-1945. Babic, Ljubo, 1890-1974. Curcin, Milan, 1880- Fiskovic, Cvito, 1908- Hamm, Josip. Kabalin, Fedor, 1920- Macek, Vladko, 1879-1964. Mandic, Dominik. Ostovic, Pavle D. Stepinac, Alojzije, 1898-1960. Tito, Josip Broz, 1892-1980. Trumbic, Ante, 1864-1938. Lavanoux, Maurice, 1894-1974. Tesla, Nikola, 1856-1943. Marjanovic, Milan, 1879-1955. Hoffman, Malvina, 1887- Dulles, John Foster, 1888- Pieta. Sculpture, Modern -- 20th century. Sculptors -- Biography. Sculptors -- Correspondence. Christian art and symbolism. Artist -- Political and social views. Symbolism in art. Snite Museum of art. Clippings. Interviews. Letters.
Correspondence, received and sent, between Ivan Mestrovic and other artists, galleries and museums, foundries, architects, prospective clients, U.S. government officials, Yugoslav emigrants, and friends who remained in Yugoslavia after World War II. Subjects covered in the letters fall into two main categories, Mestrovic's art and events in Yugoslavia, especially as they were affected by World War II. The letters concerning his art discuss his approach to his work, the wishes of clients who are commissioning work, instructions for casting and shipping sculpture, his exhibitions and publications, and awards Mestrovic received.
The letters concerning Yugoslavia and World War II discuss the history and politics of Croatia, Serbia, and other Yugoslav republics, the events of World War II as they affected his family and friends, the status of the property and artworks Mestrovic left behind when he fled Croatia during World War II, the whereabouts and welfare of friends and family in Yugoslavia, in particular Cardinal Aloysius Stepinac, and pleas for financial and political assistance from people still in Yugoslavia and those who had emigrated.
Although most of the correspondence was written after Mestrovic left Yugoslavia during World War II, the papers do include photocopies of earlier letters, primarly from 1925 to 1927, concerning exhibitions of his work in the United States and his visit to this country. Many of these letter are the work of Petar Mestrovic, Ivan's brother, who acted as an unofficial agent for Ivan while the artist's work was being exhibited in the United States.