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.

This journal page covers August 8–9, 1963. In his entry for August 8, Indiana notes spending most of the day working on Mother and Father, "bringing them much nearer [to] 1st realization, making [the] road in 'Mother' yellow ochre, a decision I had put off until today."

He also writes that he went to artist John Giorno's for dinner, and that Gerald Laing (his studio assistant) was upset by Indiana's decision to ask him to leave with him, instead of letting him stay alone in the building. He records being late to a dance concert and missing it, so he and Giorno went to two Westside bars, and that he didn't get home until dawn.

In his entry for August 9, Indiana records receiving a letter from the Albright (now the Buffalo AKG Art Museum), asking if he could restore Year of Meteors (which they had acquired in 1962). He notes that he was not active until noon, and that Giorno and Lowell Nesbitt came over for lunch. He writes that after lunch he and Laing went to see Nesbitt's new apartment, and then went over to Arista, so that he could sign "Netsch's felt black flag [New Old Glory Banner]." He expresses his approval of the flag, noting that "it is beautiful, and they did a good job with it."  Indiana also records working on Column Love.