This dataset was created from the digitized log “Journal of daily expenditure of oils, wicks, and chimneys at the South Haven Michigan light station on Black River” housed within the South Haven Michigan Lighthouse Log collection at Western Michigan University. The lighthouse keeper log notes the daily expenditure journal for the South Pierhead Light, South Haven, Michigan, from September 1, 1888 through August 31, 1892. Entries were recorded by the keeper James S. Donahue. The log provides details on the amount of oil, wicks and chimneys used at the lighthouse and also taken for consumption within the keeper's home. The keeper noted the light's order of lens, kind of light, number of wicks in burner, and diameter of outer burner. There are also details on the weather of the day, what time the lighthouse was lit and extinguished, and the length of time it remained lit.

Andrew Leavitt completed the lighthouse log transcription and coding into the dataset structure, and created the coding manual. Daria Orlowska resolved issues in transcription and coding, and made the final coding manual edits. Sharon Carlson provided collection expertise.