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 September 22, 1961, Indiana records that he met curator Campbell Wylly (misspelled Wiley) at the Museum of Modern Art, where a Mrs. Leiser referred to him as "Mr. Idaho" on the interphone. Indiana accompanied Wylly to his apartment, and then they went Indiana's loft, where Wylly saw his work for the first time. He would include Indiana's work in three Museum of Modern Art Penthouse exhibitions in 1962. Indiana notes that J. (his partner, fashion designer John Kloss) was home, and that the three of them went out for dinner. Kloss returned after, and Wylly and Indiana walked out to the pier.