# 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-266

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
B.O. Monday July 3 99

We get the Pieneer eff the slip this a.m. & began
arranging to get eff - by 3 e'cleck all was ready and
we started. Mr. Clark stayed at B.G. Miss Lina will
ceme te the Peel with Mr. Grenfell - he will leave with
the Peace tomerrew morning. We teek en the weed the
men had cut & started eff again. About 6:30 pom. just
as we were going te land we ran on a sand bank & ledged
there all night.

*“Pieneer" Tuesday July 4 - 99

About 6 this a.m. we get eff the bank and when we had
about all the weed on we lest the ancher with 15 fathams
ef chain & the beat was drifting. I ferget that we had
steam up, and had the stern ancher drepped the currant
was se streng & the men careless in fastening the chain -
that with all my strength it get away then beth were
gene. I teek the wheel - & the men soen had my ancher
en board ~ but after a leng search, in vain we left -
arriving at Tchinberi abeut 9 a.m. 15 mins past we left
and camped abeve mouth.

*Pieneer” Wednesday July 5 99

Came down the river and about 1 e'cleck stepped te get
weed - the men let the fire out - and we camped for the
night. Mr. Grenfell & Miss Lina came aleng & stepped a
little - did net ancher - they went en te Kinshasa. I
put diakabinda en beard to tell them I was coming - I
went out hunting but enly shet at seme crecs. I get
inte the mud knee deep.

“Leepeldville" ~ Heme - Thursday July 6 - 99

Heme at last, but net heme - Sephie net here ~ she is

at Mr. Clark's at Ikeke - now - when we get te the custex
heuse at Kinshasa this a.m. Mr. Gilchrist was there &
teld us the party had net yet arrived. We went then te
S.AeB. Had a little chat with Dr. Briant - came back

te Gerdens - but he & Mr. Grenfell had gene te Lee.

with the Peace. We saw Mrs. Gerden & baby & Miss Lina -
all well ~ we went en te Lee. & just as we were going

in away went the Peace. Mr. Banks with the H. Reed was
there. I had dinner with Mr. Weelings. He did net like
it that I had to go away again - as he wants te go away
for a trip. I feund a number of letters and papers - and
12 e'cleck tenight has net found me in bed.
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
apt. is a drinking kind of a fellow and has too
much to say Mr. G. & I went down & looked over the
steamer it is very nice but roughly put together. I
wrote a letter to Sophie. Mr. Clark wrote a note &
put inside it is doubtful whether she will get it or
not but I could not resist writing when an opportunity
presented. I took it to the capt. & he promised to
deliver it at Irebu. I got back to my room at about
½ past ten o'clock at night. I came by Mr. Grenfell's
and he walked to the top of the hill with me. Good-night.

B.O. Sunday July 2ⁿᵈ 1899
I slept late this a.m. I went to breakfast. Mr. MᶜG
did not come - his was sent to him I went to see how
he was & found him better. I came back & saw Mr.
Grenfell & Miss Lina. I then came back to the house &
wrote in the journal Mr. MᶜG Miss Lina & Mr. Clark
came in and we all had a nice little visit. I went to
service this a.m. the church is quite larte and was
nearly filled. Mr. Clark of B.O. preached. After dinner
we all had a little rest; & naps, then tea & I went to
S.S. about 120 were in attendance. Mr. Clark is super-
intendant. I think there were nine classes. I then
came back to my room & did some reading - until supper
time this evening they had communion service and there
were 23 native Christians & 7 of us white people at
communion: - an exceedingly nice service. Mr. Grenfell
came up to the house with me with a light - and showed
me the way. Mr. Clark of Ikoko came in & we had a
little chat before retiring. Now good night.
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Lee. July 7 - 99 Friday

While eating breakfast this a.m. some mere letters &
papers came. A letter frem sister a a - Flera & mether-
all well - geed news - 11 e'cleck I went to Kinshasa en
train - ate dinner at Dutch Heuse - went to see Mr.
Farce Gustom efficer - arranged my business all well -
stepped at Gerden's a little - get a small canoe & twe
paddles from a Dutch man fer Sephie, returned heme en
train again & did seme writing ~ all well at Luebe.

Leo. Saturday July 8 - 99

Went te see the Inspecteur & some of the Steamer cap-
tains - Get some sweet potatees & yams frem ene - M°Grege
takes breakfast with me every a.m. The C.B.M. party came
in tenight - twe Jamaca brethren, Clark & Sawyers, Miss
Logir, Mrs. Randal, Messrs. Bewen & Sinclair, Miss

Avery - all G.B.M. I am to have the services tomerrew.

Lee. Sunday July 9 - 99

This a.m. NKaku preached, quite a geed congregatien.
After service, Mr. Clark of C.B.M. promised te preach,
at the 4 p.m. service we had a geod sermon from him. At
night we had cemmunien service at Mr. Weelings Mr.
Sawyers wag not there as he had toethache - Very late
before I retired.

Lee. Monday July 10 - 99

Kiazir & Nkale washed & ironed teday - the ether boys
earried leads for Mr. Weolings. Mr. Banks get his leads
en & abeut 6 o'cleck with Mr. Gilchrist & his prespectiv:
bride (MissLegir) & Miss Avery left for Kinshasa, in
erder that they might be ready to start early in the
a.m. Mr. M°Greger will net leave until Tuesday p.m.

fer Kinshasa. I
</next_page_context>

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