# 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-017

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
had us to go and take tea with him. After tea we went
to the Coborn St. Station and rode on train to Liverpool
St. Station and went down to Mr. Whytes and got the rest
of our luggage & then went to the depot about 8 o'clock
pem- where we were joined by Mr. Armstrong and his 2
native African friends whom he had under his care. A
crowd of students and others came to see us off and at
the door of the carriage in which we were to ride the
crowd stood & sung many humns until the train was ready
to start and when the Conductor came and told us to get
in we shook hands all around the "God bless you" were
numerous and from the hearts of all ~ a large crowd of
looker's on were there from curiosity, I suppose, but
the parting could not help making an impression on them.
After getting into the car the last good old song was
"God be with you till we meet again." Then we only
made one stop until we got to Harwich, Eng. where we
went from train to the ship which carried us to Antwerp.
But the ship had not started and gone more than 1/2 an
hour when it began to pitch. I had already retired to
keep from getting sick but I had not been in bed long
until I began to feel very queer. If you have ever
been sea sick you know how it feels ~ and there was a
basin ready and I had to be casting my supper and all I
had eaten, I think, since I came to England into it

and I had no rest during the whole night. I had to
vomit I think every ten minutes. And in the morning I
was not well. I could eat no breakfast - felt badly

all the way.

Dec. 5 ~ Saturday

After breakfast I went out and paced the deck awhile

to see if that would not help me but the deck was small.
The name of the boat was Cambridge. About 8 o'clock

we came to Fleesing, Holland where we changed pilots

and entered the mouth of the "Schelde," in dutch, in
french "Eschut," and we went through a beautiful level
country with a levee or dike on either side, reminds

one very much of the Mississippi. However, the Dikes

are so high that it is almost impossible to see any of
the country. We arrived at Antwerp (Avers) Belgium atout
12 o'clock, noon, and found the Driver of the Queens
Hotel there awaiting our arrival. He put all our luggage
on the top and inside of his cab and you may be sure

when we got in too he had not only a load but a cab full.
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
went to the National picture gallery. I
will not undertake to tell about the pictures only they
were grand. I then wended my way to Mr. Whytes and after
waiting an hour Morrison came in. Then I went back to
the hotel and finding Mr. Sort, I accepted an invitation
from him to go to the Imperial Theater where we saw the
Great Monte Christo played. Some of the grandest
pictures I ever saw - and the richest costumes in ap-
pearance. The figures and tableaux were beautiful.
After the play and going into the street we found it
raining and when we found a bus on which we could ride
it was full on the inside so we had to get on top. The
Imperial is gorgeously fixed up - it is a most elegant
building. After visiting with Mr. S. in his room I
retired.

After breakfast this a.m. I got a cab and we moved
that is our trunks to the Great Eastern depot and left
them until evening. Then we went to Mr. Whytes and
attended to the winding up of our business and got into
a cab and went to the Harly House, Dr. Guiness' School
Missionary - where a farewell meeting was held for a
Mr. Armstrong, student and two Africans Congo natives-
who had been attending school at the Harley House and
then the meeting was a most glorious success singing
lots of it both standing & kneeling - a bible reading
& lecture by Dr. Guiness - a little talk from 2 or 3
missionaries who had already been to Africa - a talk
from Mr. Armstrong, one of the native Africans, Mr.
Morrison & myself. Then we were dismissed and Dr. G.
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
On arriving at the hotel we were shown our rooms and
nice ones too - then we had dinner. A really good one
very different from our London meal. Then we went out
to the Cathedral & looked through that. We then went
to Je F. Best & Co's office and found that some of our
packages were missing and we went to the docks with a
frenchman who could not speak a word of English and
tried to find the missing packages. We could not so
we went to the office again & M. was very exercised
over the matter. But I told him all would be right.
He however sent a telegram & letter to Mr. Whyte. I
went around to Mons. J. B. Schoepen, Bookminister

rue Dr. Gage 16 Antwerp, and found there a letter for
me from Jennie. I had a very pleasant visit with Mrs.
Schoepen. Mons. Schoepen had gone to Brussels on
business & would not be back until 10 o'clock tonight.
However, upon invitation, I made an engagement to call
tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock. I then went out and
purchased some and 2 deck chairs came back to
the hotel and wrote a letter and retired.

Dec. 6 ~ Sunday

I had a good nights rest last night and arose early

this a.m. much refreshed and afer a hearty breakfast

I went around on rue Dr. Gage to see my old friends,
Mons. &Mrs. Schoepen. I found them very pleasant and
agreeable persons and I enjoyed my visit very much. I
then went around to the hotel and we made preparations

to go on board the steamer. Edward Bohlen filling up
the cab a second time and going to the docks we had a
time getting
</next_page_context>

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