# Crowley diary faithful page transcription specification

You are transcribing one scanned physical page from a photocopy of a typewritten
transcription of J. S. Crowley's historical diaries. Produce PASS 1 only:
faithful transcription and document structure.

## Authority and scope

1. The attached current-page image is authoritative.
2. Current-page OCR is a fallible hypothesis. Correct OCR by consulting the image.
3. Neighbor context is only for detecting continuity. It must never supply text
   that is not visibly present on the current page.
4. Transcribe each visible source character as faithfully as the image allows.
   Preserve source spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, factual errors,
   incorrect dates, archaic or offensive terminology, and historical place names.
5. Do not improve, modernize, sanitize, silently correct, or complete the source.
6. Do not transcribe scan noise, binder holes, shadows, or page damage as text.
7. If no defensible reading is visible, use an `illegible` node. Never guess merely
   to avoid an uncertainty.

## Semantic structure first

Logical document blocks are the primary structure. Identify ordered headings,
standalone text, diary entries, letters, lists, tables/ledgers, annotations, gap
notices, separators, and non-textual graphical features. A diary entry or letter owns ordered semantic content
parts. Physical source lines are nested inside those blocks or parts only to
preserve diplomatic lineation, hyphenation, and evidence. Do not treat each
physical line as an independent document block.

Use a table only where columns or cell relationships are visibly meaningful. Use
a list for sequential items without a reliable column relationship. Do not infer
numeric values or repair arithmetic.

## Graphical and non-textual source features

A handwritten drawing, doodle, diagram, symbol, or other non-textual feature
that cannot meaningfully be transcribed as text must use a
`graphical_feature` block. Do not invent words for it. Record its medium,
placement, neutral observational description, page-image region when reasonably
identifiable, and related nearby block IDs when the relationship is visible.
Keep both continuation declarations `no`; graphical marks are not textual
cross-page continuations. A label that is itself readable text remains an
annotation block or part, with a related graphical-feature block for the
non-textual strokes. Descriptions must be observational, such as “Small
handwritten mark beneath the diary entry,” never speculative historical
interpretation. If a reliable bounding box cannot be supplied, use `region:
null`; do not guess coordinates.

## Physical source lines

Transcribe every visible physical text line in order. Divide each line into inline
segments only where an intervention or uncertainty requires it. Do not preserve
indentation with runs of spaces; semantic blocks, table cells, and list labels
represent layout.

For `line_end`:

- `block_end`: the logical text represented by this line collection ends here.
- `no_hyphen`: the text continues on another visible source line with no printed
  terminal hyphen; a reading renderer should join with a space.
- `hyphen_word_break`: a printed terminal hyphen exists only because a word wraps;
  omit the hyphen when joining the reading text.
- `hyphen_lexical`: a printed terminal hyphen is intentional and remains when the
  reading text is joined.
- `hyphen_uncertain`: a printed terminal hyphen is visible but its function cannot
  be determined confidently.

Do not put the terminal source hyphen itself inside the preceding text segment
when using one of the three hyphen line-end values.

Use a hyphen line-end value only when a terminal hyphen is visibly printed. Do
not add a line-end hyphen merely because a sentence, list item, or phrase
continues on the next physical line. Preserve internal source hyphens such as
`nice-pleasant` even when they appear unconventional.

## Inline distinctions

- `text`: clearly visible source text.
- `unclear`: a visible but uncertain reading. Give the best reading when possible
  and list genuinely plausible alternatives.
- `illegible`: text is present but no defensible reading can be supplied.
- `addition`: visibly added text, recording whether it is handwritten or
  typewritten and its placement.
- `deletion`: visibly cancelled text. Preserve a reading when still legible; do
  not include it in ordinary reading text. If the cancellation is visible but
  its underlying text is not defensibly readable, keep `type: deletion`, use a
  null reading, no invented alternatives, and `confidence: unreadable`.
- `correction`: an original and replacement are visibly related. Preserve both;
  do not decide that the replacement is historically true.

Confidence vocabulary:

- `high`: plainly legible with no plausible competing reading.
- `medium`: the proposed reading is likely, with a minor visual ambiguity.
- `low`: multiple readings remain plausible.
- `unreadable`: no defensible reading can be supplied.

Never invent decimal confidence scores.

## Dates and editorial interpretation

`date_source` is a literal faithful transcription of the visible heading.
`date_normalized` is separate editorial metadata:

- `normalized`: the visible date is unambiguous and only mechanical expansion or
  ISO formatting is needed.
- `inferred`: the normalized date intentionally differs from the visible source;
  supply a concise reason and qualitative confidence.
- `ambiguous`: competing normalized dates remain plausible; leave the normalized
  value null.
- `invalid`: the visible date is invalid and no responsible inference is made;
  leave the normalized value null.
- `not_normalized`: no normalization was attempted; all normalization metadata is
  null.

For both `normalized` and `inferred`, `date_normalized`,
`normalization_confidence`, and a non-empty `normalization_reason` are mandatory.
For `inferred`, the reason must state the visible conflict. If a year visibly
printed in an image conflicts with a historically plausible chronology, preserve
the printed year in `date_source` and the physical line. Put any chronology-based
alternative only in `date_normalized` with status `inferred`. Never copy an
inferred year back into faithful text.

Never alter the faithful line text to match the normalized date. Use editorial
notes for visible source mistakes, continuity questions, or consequential layout
ambiguity. Do not perform person/place identity resolution or any other PASS 2
historical interpretation.

For a `gap_notice`, represent each available range endpoint with the same complete
date object used by diary entries: `start_date` and `end_date`. Either endpoint may
be null only when it is genuinely unavailable. If the source gives `Nov. 28.` and
the year can responsibly be supplied from the range context, preserve
`date_source: "Nov. 28."`, put the year-bearing ISO value only in
`date_normalized`, use `normalization_status: "inferred"`, and explain the year
inference. Never label a context-supplied year as merely `normalized`.

## PoC regression rules and examples

- **Literal source date:** Never substitute a historically plausible date for
  the characters visible in a heading. Faithful line text and `date_source` must
  agree with the image. Any responsible alternative belongs only in separate
  `inferred` normalization metadata.
- **Intentional internal hyphen:** Preserve a visible form such as
  `nice-pleasant` exactly. It is not a line-break artifact and must not become
  `nice pleasant` or `nicepleasant`.
- **Incomplete-looking material without survival continuity:** A sentence or
  letter that looks incomplete does not automatically continue. If the next
  surviving page does not carry it forward, do not assert `to_next: "yes"` or
  duplicate an imagined continuation. Use `uncertain` only when the boundary
  evidence itself is genuinely unresolved and explain it in an editorial note.
- **Low-confidence handwriting:** When handwriting plausibly reads `Luebo` or
  `Lukbo`, use an `unclear` segment with low confidence and both alternatives (or
  a cautious best reading plus the competing alternative). Do not promote one to
  high-confidence text. If neither is defensible, use `illegible`.
- **Cross-page cancellation is not logical continuation:** A deletion stroke or
  cancellation region may continue onto the next page even when the underlying
  dated diary entry ends on the current page. Encode the deleted text within the
  closed entry and leave the entry's `to_next` as `no`; describe the continuing
  cancellation region in an editorial note rather than linking unrelated entries.
- **Small visible marks:** Preserve ditto marks, fractions such as `1/2` or `¼`,
  superscripts, punctuation, inserted characters, abbreviated notation, ticks,
  dashes, unusual ledger marks, and other meaningful small marks. Do not expand
  ditto marks, decimalize fractions, or silently omit marks merely because OCR
  missed them.

## Page boundaries and continuity

Set page-level boundary flags from visible evidence and limited neighbor context.
Each logical block separately declares whether it continues from the previous
page or to the next page. Independent page generation cannot know the future
block ID, so `continuation.previous` and `continuation.next` must always be null.
The deterministic reconciliation step will create reciprocal links only after
both adjacent pages have been processed. Never copy neighbor text onto this page.

## Mechanical output rules

- Return one JSON object matching the supplied schema and nothing else.
- Use the current page ID in every ID: blocks `pNNN-b001`, `pNNN-b002`, and so on;
  nested parts `pNNN-b001-p001`; notes `pNNN-n001`.
- Orders and source line numbers begin at 1 and are contiguous in visual order.
- For all block and part evidence objects, output exactly:
  `{"status":"not_attempted","method":null,"ocr_word_ids":[],"bbox":null,"matched_tokens":0,"total_tokens":0}`.
- Set editorial-note responsibility to `model`.
- A genuinely blank page has `page_role: "blank"`, no blocks, both boundary flags
  `no`, and no invented separator text.

## Run-specific evidence

CURRENT SOURCE PAGE: page-152

The attached image is the sole authority for text physically present on this page.

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Wednesday Feb. 23 - 98
Mr. Silva still sick. Rec'd 40 boxes and bales from Ma-
tadi by train, for our friends at Luebo. 9 carriers came
in but I could net give them leads until temerrew. We
have been getting mails ready. While I was unleading the
car it began to rain very hard & when I had finished,
during the intervals of rain, I went to the heuse, but
Kr. Graham called to me & there was Mrs. C. I went in &
we had a cup ef tea with them. All well goed night.
We hepe all our leved ones & friends at home are well too
J.S. & Sophie Crowk

Thrusday Feb. 24 - 98

This aem. I loaded my carriers, sent off the loads &¢ in
short order. Went around to see my sick friends, found
them all better some well. Attended to the writing of
som important letters. Mr. Pinnock, with fever this
afternoon & night. I have one boy very sick pneumonia,
very weak. Nothing eleo of much importance.

Friday Feb. 25 - 1898

My sick bey is quite 111, he seems very bad. My sick
friends ere all well. Mr. FP. still with fever, rainy
day, no school. Mrs. & Mr. Graham preparring te go te
Nkissi to stay over Sunday.

Saturday Feb. 26 - 98

Mr. & Mrs. Graham went to Nkissi this a.m. Mr. F. better
is chepping at Mr. Woodings and will take supper with us
tomorrow. Mrs. Wooding unwell. I took some nourishment
te my sick friends. This p.m. I gave Mre. Crowley a les-
son in herseback-riding. She had never ridden before,
and new she tries e donkey, very brave before she mounts,
but very timid after mounting. She enjoyed it very much

and ate a hearty supper - fine exercise - good night -
all well.

Sunday Feb. 27

My boy Kunseka is not any better this a.m. although he
says he is. His eyes shew that death is unconsciously
approaching service thie a.m. by Mr. Weoding, and aleo
in the afternoon, as Mr. Morgan is away. About 5 p.m.

it began to rain very hard. Mr. F. took supper with us
and just as we were about to sit down a boy came in and
told us that Kunseka was in much trouble, and when we got

out to his house, only 5 paces from my door, he had
breathed his last. He said that he had taken Christ as
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
little boy who came to us yesterday
He is quite a nice looking little fellow since he is
cleaned and dressed up. He goes to school and is quite ap
I have a class in English and they are very interesting.
I went to see Mr. Silva again this p.m. & found him with
fever. We are now writing letters for the outgoing mails
in a few days. Good night.

Tuesday Feb. 22- 1898
I went to see my sick and convalescent friends--all in
good condition except Mr. Silva, and he has the Dr. at-
tending him. The doctors don't seem to know as well as
the missionaries what is necessary in sickness. The
usual labors in the morning. In the after noon Mrs. C.
& I both wrote out [or?] wills as to the disposition to be
made of our Cong belongings, in case either should pass
off before the other, should it be our lot while in the
Congo State. Explanation - every body, missionaries es-
pecially, make their wills, because the law of the state
is, that the property of any one deceased, that any one
who has not made a will, his or her, no matter, married
or single, property must be sold by the State and 10% go
to defraying expenses. Some who have died without a will
have caused no end of trouble and expense. So you see it
is only for precaution and customary for all missionaries
to do so. I went to the sale this p.m., and bought some
things, which belonged to a man who had died some months
ago. I merely wanted to see what they did. I did not by
them for myself, however. Mrs. C. is getting on nicely
in school.
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
his saviour and thet he was praying that his heart might
be cleaned by Jesus blood. He died very easily. After
supper Mr. Pinnock and I laid him out wrapping him in &
yards of verandah cloth, and placing him in the chapel
te remain for the night.

Monday Feb. 28 ~ 1898

I arese early this aem. and wrote a letter to the Commis-
sair of the district, notifying him of the death of the
boy. After breekfast we had prayers in the chapel where
the corpse lay, and a soldier of the state with some
prisoners came to bear the corpse to the cemetery, and
after the service they carried it off in a hammock. I
did not accompany it to the grave as the grave had to te
dug after they got there. I was te have gone to the
cemetary in the afterneen but we had one of the hardest
rains. Mr. Cameron came in from his trip just in time
te escape it. It was time for the mails te ceme in but
the rain was so hard I did not go down to meet the train.
Now we shall say good night. All well.

Tuesday Mar. 18t 1898

This a.m. I went down to the train and saw some friends
eff, and called at the FP. 0. and received a letter from
home with congratulations of our marriage, also aletter
from Mr. Verner, Mr. Underwood &c. We were invited to
supper with Mr. & Mrs. Graham to-night. Mr. & Mrs.
Wooding an Mr. Cameron were there. After a most enjoyabl
supper we had a nice game of Bag-a-tel. That is all.
Goodnight.

Wednesday Mar. 2 - 1898

All well this aem. Gick friends well. Busy with a/c's
and other things. At noon 2
</next_page_context>

Return only the JSON object required by the supplied output schema.

## Explicit repair attempt

The prior response failed deterministic validation. Return a complete replacement
object, not a patch. Preserve the source reading and fix only the structural or
schema problems listed below.

<validation_errors>
- canonical: part p152-b001-p001 line 8 has block_end before the last line
</validation_errors>

<prior_response status="invalid">
{"page_id":"page-152","page_role":"content","boundary":{"starts_mid_block":"no","ends_mid_block":"yes"},"blocks":[{"id":"p152-b001","order":1,"continuation":{"from_previous":"no","to_next":"no","previous":null,"next":null},"evidence":{"status":"not_attempted","method":null,"ocr_word_ids":[],"bbox":null,"matched_tokens":0,"total_tokens":0},"type":"diary_entry","date":{"date_source":"Wednesday Feb. 23 - 98","date_normalized":"1898-02-23","normalization_status":"normalized","normalization_confidence":"high","normalization_reason":"Expanded the visible two-digit year \"98\" to 1898 and formatted the unambiguous date as ISO."},"place_source":null,"content":[{"id":"p152-b001-p001","order":1,"evidence":{"status":"not_attempted","method":null,"ocr_word_ids":[],"bbox":null,"matched_tokens":0,"total_tokens":0},"type":"text","role":"body","lines":[{"line_number":1,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"Mr. Silva still sick. Rec'd 40 boxes and bales from Ma"}],"line_end":"hyphen_word_break"},{"line_number":2,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"tadi by train, for our friends at Luebo. 9 carriers came"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":3,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"in but I could not give them loads until tomorrow. We"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":4,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"have been getting mails ready. While I was unloading the"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":5,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"car it began to rain very hard & when I had finished,"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":6,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"during the intervals of rain, I went to the house, but"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":7,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"Mr. Graham called to me & there was Mrs. C. I went in &"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":8,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"we had a cup of tea with them. All well good night."}],"line_end":"block_end"},{"line_number":9,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"We hope all our loved ones & friends at home are well too"}],"line_end":"block_end"}]},{"id":"p152-b001-p002","order":2,"evidence":{"status":"not_attempted","method":null,"ocr_word_ids":[],"bbox":null,"matched_tokens":0,"total_tokens":0},"type":"text","role":"closing","lines":[{"line_number":1,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"J.S. & Sophie Crowe"}],"line_end":"block_end"}]}]},{"id":"p152-b002","order":2,"continuation":{"from_previous":"no","to_next":"no","previous":null,"next":null},"evidence":{"status":"not_attempted","method":null,"ocr_word_ids":[],"bbox":null,"matched_tokens":0,"total_tokens":0},"type":"diary_entry","date":{"date_source":"Thursday Feb. 24 - 98","date_normalized":"1898-02-24","normalization_status":"normalized","normalization_confidence":"high","normalization_reason":"Expanded the visible two-digit year \"98\" to 1898 and formatted the unambiguous date as ISO."},"place_source":null,"content":[{"id":"p152-b002-p001","order":1,"evidence":{"status":"not_attempted","method":null,"ocr_word_ids":[],"bbox":null,"matched_tokens":0,"total_tokens":0},"type":"text","role":"body","lines":[{"line_number":1,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"This a.m. I loaded my carriers, sent off the loads & in"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":2,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"short order. I went around to see my sick friends, found"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":3,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"them all better some well. Attended to the writing of"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":4,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"som important letters. Mr. Pinnock, with fever this"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":5,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"afternoon & night. I have one boy very sick pneumonia,"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":6,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"very weak. Nothing elso of much importance."}],"line_end":"block_end"}]}]}]  , "editorial_notes":[]}
</prior_response>
