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 October 2, 1962, Indiana records a visit from Bernie (his landlord, Bernard Schonbrun) who was "impressed by the summer’s work, apparently enthusiastic with [the] increasing complexity of my work." He documents the work that he did that day, which included reinforcing the yellow of The Calumet, and applying a second coat of black on Polygon: Square, second coats to Two, and a final blue coat to a small Octagon painting. Indiana notes that as he was putting things away he ran into several mementos of his Randy Muhleman, who had once lived with Indiana and recently died by suicide.

Indiana then writes that he called art critic Gene Swenson, to say that he had read his review (of Indiana's solo show at the Stable Gallery, in the October issue of ARTnews), and that Swenson said he wanted to leave the magazine, being fed up with "being required [to] look at and write about so many bad shows." He also mentions a call by Museum of Modern Art curator Campbell Wylly, who reported that The Great Reap would be on display in the Museum's Penthouse Exhibition starting Monday, and that after that there would be a drawing show (in which Indiana was also included)..