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 May 3, 1961, Indiana writes that he spent much of the day "putting a very dusty loft back into order" (from sanding a column the day before), and then emptied the tower and installed the first column there for further work. He also notes a call from Stephen Durkee, who was "in need" of an I Ching reading, and informed Indiana that a loft was empty in his building. 

The page includes sketches of two 10 by 8-inch works, Dick and Bang, with a note that the letters in each are red. Indiana indicates that Dick went to artist Richard Smith, and that Bang went to art critic Gene Swenson.

Indiana often mentioned current events in his journals, here he writes "cease-fire in Laos," where three factions had been vying for control of the country.