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 31, 1961, Indiana records making many attempts to work out a pick-up of his works (from the show Premiums: Stephen Durkee, Robert Indiana, and Richard Smith) at Paul Sanasardo's studio, but that nothing came from it. He writes that Stephen Durkee was receiving gallerist Allan Stone that evening, and Leo Castelli the next day. Indiana also notes that he visited James Rosenquist on his way to the cleaners, where he ran into Fred Mitchell.

The entry includes a sketch of a work titled Niner, or Nine Arr, with notes indicating that it was a raw Sienna, oil on canvas work measuring 8 by 10 inches. A note added at a later date indicates that it was destroyed in 1962.

Indiana frequently referenced current events in his journals; here he notes that President John F. Kennedy was in France (he arrived that day for an official trip lasting through June 2).