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 June 10, 1962, Indiana writes that it was "another glorious summer day," and that he spent a brief time on the roof before turning "back in for full production." He notes giving The Red Diamond Die, The Black Diamond American Dream #2, and "Big Red Eat" (Eat) a second coat of cadmium red light, declaring: "by September [the] beauties surely will be well hatched. Just [this] one operation greatly enhanced [the] sharpness and brilliance of each."

Indiana then records going out with J. (his partner, fashion designer John Kloss) for food, and that he decided to make a long overdue visit to Art (clinical psychologist and art collector Arthur Carr), taking along gesso and brushes to repair Electi (which he had loaned to Carr). He writes that Electi "profited greatly by an additional coat of gesso on its electoral dials," and that Carr also persuaded him to touch up Red County, which "had suffered from handing in Westchester, being exhibited in the Scarsdale High School." Indiana also writes that he saw "Eat" (Fork) hanging for the first time, and that Carr gave him some wooden pegs from Fire Island.