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 January 14, 1959, and January 14, 1960. In his entry for January 14, 1959, Indiana records that he informed the Cathedral of St. John Divine about his decision to leave his job there (Indiana held a part-time secretarial position working with the Rev. James A. Pike). He writes that his decision was "taken well enough," but there was "some caution" regarding his suggestion of artist Charles Hinman as his replacement.

Indiana's journal entry for January 14, 1960, includes a sketch of an unnamed metal on wood construction.  He also records that while he was in Scarsdale (where he taught classes as the Scarsdale Studio Workshop, a photographer from the Enquirer came and took photographs.