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.

This journal page covers February 25, 1959, and February 25, 1960. In his entry for February 25, 1959, Indiana summarizes a talk that he had with Agnes Martin: "Reassurance from Agnes. [?] This I take was her comment and review of my work; her particular slant on it is very particular: she sees my work as aggressive."

He then notes that he sat next to artist Salvatore Scarpitta on the subway, but hadn't recognized who he was until he bumped into him at the Castelli Gallery. After that he stopped by the Martha Jackson Gallery to see the Antoni Tàpies exhibition. Indiana records having a few words with the artist, and that: "Mrs. Jackson [was] very busy handling calls for him; everyone, including Mr. [James Johnson] Sweeny wanting to have lunch with the Spaniard. The New School wanting him to talk. He seemingly very awed by everything: modest and a victim of the language barrier."

Indiana also writes that he worked on a red, blue, and silver leaf painting, and that James Rosenquist came over to visit. 

In his journal entry for February 25, 1960, Indiana writes that he finished stretching his second large canvas, 72x60 inches, "turning the canvas over around the back and stapling it there."  He notes that he canceled an appointment with Herbert Nagel, and that Nagel confirmed that someone named Harrison was interested in his work. Indiana also records that J. (his partner, fashion designer John Kloss) had gotten a new client from Lillian Ross (a journalist and collector), and that Kloss helped him repair a shirt that EK (Ellsworth Kelly) had given him "a long time back." At the bottom of the page Indiana notes "sketches."