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 March 1, 1961, Indiana records that he was in and at work the whole day, and that he began his last free canvas. The first page of the entry includes a color sketch of the painting Ballyhoo, with the comment "idea for this tossing about for several days now," and the second page includes a color sketch of The Triumph of Tira. Indiana explains that he extended the color impact of the latter work by adding Mars red to the formerly black, dark yellow, and white painting. A comment above the painting, added at a later date, indicates that the work is in the collection of the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery in Lincoln, Nebraska. 

Indiana also discusses a call from gallerist Rolf Nelson (who at the time went by Ralph), who wanted to bring David (art dealer and son of Martha Jackson) and Becky Anderson down, but then potsponed the visit until the following evening. He mentions dinner plans on Monday with the dancer/choreographer Paul Sanasardo, who wanted him to arrange an exhibition after Bob Natkin's. (Later than month Indiana would participate in the show Premiums: Stephen Durkee, Robert Indiana and Richard Smith at Sanasardo's Studio for Dance).