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 March 24, 1961, Indiana records that he was up until four in the morning working on the poster for Rolf Nelson (for the exhibition Indiana / Forakis at the David Anderson Gallery), stenciling his name against Forakis' freehand signature. He also records teaching a small collage class in Scarsdale (where he taught at the Scarsdale Studio Workshop), and that J. (his partner, fashion designer John Kloss) met him at Grand Central Station upon his return. Once home he notes getting a call from Stephen Durkee, who needed help transporting a new piece to Paul Sanasardo's studio (for the exhibition Premiums: Stephen Durkee, Robert Indiana, and Richard Smith, opening the next day). Indiana writes that the theme of the piece was "three mannequins," and that they took it to the gallery via subway.