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 July 23, 1962, Indiana notes that it was a rainy day, ending the recent drought that had hit New York, and that he worked on two sculptures. He records "reaffirming [the] blue word, which looks much better now upon repainting," of Gem, and starting a renovation of Womb, "it being far too much of a holdout in an area almost totally given away [to] [the] new."

Indiana then writes that Roger Hilton, a fashion designer from London, came to see John (his partner, fashion designer John Kloss) to do some work with him. He also discusses the first live television shows between Europe and the United States, which occurred that day, opining that Europe's was "more diverse, cultural and sharper, but a little heavy on [the] travelogue side. Ours more 'news' conscious." Indiana notes that he had all of his meals in, and discusses correspondence with two friends, Jeremy and John Dunn.