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 page for June 26, 1962, Indiana describes the demolition that had begun the day prior: "roof stripped bare a.m. Can see thru [floor] beams clear [to] [the] ground [floor] in [the] section immediately under my rear dormer." He notes that the work was completed before the 4 p.m. downpour, which caused only one minor leak, and had "neat thunder [and] lightening." 

Indiana records that he turned to constructions again, adding yellow numerals and red circles to Hub. He includes sketches of Chief and Ahab (formerly Agnes), with a note that he added pegs to both. A comment with an arrow pointing to the peg in Chief states that "the largest peg was donated by Arthur" (clinical psychologist and art collector Arthur Carr).