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 page dated September 13, 1962, Indiana records feeling upset at seeing yesterday's disappointment (Stable), and that he did not have enough canvas to repair it, so he turned instead to The Black Diamond American Dream #2, pressing the work to its completion. The page includes two sketches of details from the painting. Next to the first, a sketch of the upper circle, Indiana notes shadowing the black letters with green and adding blue stars to the red orbs. Next to the second, a sketch of the lower circle, he notes gessoing the numeral "2" and the stars to the black orbs. He also records adding a numeral "3" to The Red Diamond American Dream #3.

Indiana also records James Rosenquist's report of his encounter with an architect, and his feeling that he should work with Richard Bellamy (of Green Gallery) and other galleries to increase his fee for his murals. He notes Rosenquist telling him that Ellswoth Kelly recommended him to the gallerist Betty Parsons, and that "she looked—but didn't see." 

Indiana ends the entry with a description of  a dinner at home to celebrate  J.'s (his partner, fashion designer John Kloss) 34th birthday.