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.

This journal page covers May 24–25, 1959, and May 24–25, 1960. In the first entry on the page, for May 24, 1959, Indiana writes that "there was a pleasant nostalgia in the lazy, luxurious, sensual Sunday," and that he didn't have breakfast until 6:30. He then met Arthur Carr (a clinical psychologist and art collector) to see the 1958 film Mon Oncle.

The entry for May 24, 1959, is followed by the entry for May 24, 1960. Indiana records that it was his last Tuesday class (at the Scarsdale Studio workshop), and that it was "a tremendous relief to have this over. Most all in attendance and well behaved." After he was met by J. (his partner, fashion designer John Kloss) at Grand Central and they bought groceries for their first dinner at home in a long time. He also notes applying a second coat of gesso to twelve panels.

The third entry on the page is for May 25, 1959. Indiana records "bitterness from the suburbs," explaining that Mrs. Goldberg, the chair of the Scarsdale Studio workshop, went on a tirade about him "saying the wrong things and too many of them to the ladies of the committee." He also notes that artist Joe Cali came up to his studio for pineapple.

The last entry on the page is for May 25, 1960. Indiana writes that he started a new sculpture using the beam section, "a beautifully weathered specimen," that he and Kloss carried over from Water Street. He includes a sketch of the work, noting that it is wire on wood, and measures 44 by 12 inches. A note added a later date indicates that it was scrapped in 1961, and that the lower part became the base for 4 (Four).