Robert Indiana kept a series of illustrated journals during the late 1950s and 1960s, in which he discusses the development of his work as well as his daily life on Coenties Slip.

In his journal entry for August 22, 1962, Indiana records a call from art critic Gene Swenson, who told him that Tom Hess, editor of ARTnews, was looking for someone to design an emblem for a Democratic Party rally program. He writes that he hesitated about calling, and when he finally did speak to Hess he found out that he had had lunch with artist Philip Pavia, and given him the job.

Indiana then records working on The Melville Trilogy (renamed The Melville Triptych), enlarging and repainting the wheel letters. He explains that it is "a full day’s job this, and a nerve wracking as for [the] ground is white and one smudge can be fatal." He notes that he intends to have the work downstairs for architect Philip Johnson, whom he wanted to invite to dinner, to see.