Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, Vol. 59, May 2, 1959, p. 73:

May 2 – Sat.

            Late A.M. in studio—working some on “Song of the Redbird.” Played many of the old 78 RPM records of Negro Spirituals – What memories they evoked, and how truly spiritual they are. Something seems to have gone out of my life—I seemed nearer to God and Christ when I was struggling so hard to believe, than after I decided I could accept Christ—

            Late P.M. — H.O. [Harold Olmsted] in with a Miss Strauss (friend of Clara Sipprell) –