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 January 17, 1962, Indiana records that it was "a rather bleak and hard day" and that it took him hours to recuperate from his day in Scarsdale (where he taught classes at the Scarsdale Studio Workshop). He writes that it was, however, "slightly made up for at its v[ery] end when Herman Krawitz [an assistant manager at the Metropolitan Opera] called [to] let me know of a conversation he had just had with [architect] Philip Johnson at [the] ballet." Indiana notes that when Krawitz brought up his name Johnson recognized it immediately, "and went on [to] say [that] he not only knew my work but liked it, and had given his vote for it on [the] museum board of purchases." Indiana adds that Krawitz suggested to Johnson that he might have the opportunity to meet him at his place.