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.

Indiana's journal page for May 13, 1962, includes a sketch of the painting "The American Dream" (Diamond) 2 (The Black Diamond American Dream #2). The artist documents bringing its conception to a probable close, recording "all raw gesso areas become yellow." Indiana also notes that he added red stripes to the sculpture Brow, illustrated by a small sketch, and that he worked on The Eateria, giving half of the painting second coats. 

Indiana also writes that it turned cold again, and details a call from James Rosenquist, who relayed that the architect Philip Johnson had extended his invitation to John Chamberlain to exhibit a work on the façade of the World's Fair Theatre.