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 for July 3, 1962, Indiana describes his work on a rejected panel from The Red Diamond American Dream #3 (possibly an earlier state of Tilt). He writes that he repainted the whole surface with a new coat of paint, and brought this "rejected segment" of the 3rd American Dream into "acceptable form," strengthening the central letters by enlarging them, "a key [to] reinforcing other [paintings] wh[ich] might not be as strong as they [should] due [to] my limitations of stencils. [Have] [the] summer for [this] commendable job!"

Indiana also records a call from James Rosenquist bringing bad news regarding the building inspector, who had noted a deficiency with the building.