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 20, 1962, includes a sketch of a panel from the painting "The American Dream," Red Diamond version (The Red Diamond American Dream #3). The artist notes that each section is comprised of a separate panel measuring 36 x 36 inches (square). 

Indiana records a downpour with hail, and that the day became solely his when Joe called to say the muggy weather would be keeping him in his air-conditioned apartment. He also mentions that J. (his partner, fashion designer John Kloss) had taken advantage of his absence yesterday to see an acquaintance visiting from Los Angeles and to show him some of New York City. Indiana notes there was no thank you call today from the acquaintance, an actor whose egoism J. did not appreciate.

Indiana also writes that it was the end of the art show in Scarsdale (the Scarsdale Studio Workshop's Annual Exhibition), and that he had received no word from anyone except Noel (Noel Frackman, a journalist and friend) as to how it turned out. He mentions that Noel was "properly frightened," by Mrs. G (Mrs. Edwin L. Goldberg, chairman of the Scarsdale Studio Workshop), who expected her to cover the event.