# 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-129

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Wednesday Jan. 12 - 1898

Today Mrs. G. & Mrs. W. & my two siek friends are all
better. This is the last day of grace for the foreign
mails and we are all busy getting off our correspondence.
Today I made out a long list of all the leads I sent to
Luebo for Mr. Merrison as treasurer ef Luebo. It took
me some time but I finished it. They have been crying
for goods for some time but I guess they have gotten then
now. I have for then plenty and when they get ther their
hearts will be glad. Mr. Pinnock held the Congo service.
Tonight we have Frost, which is a rare thing in Africa.
Mr. & Mrs. Glenesk, missionaries of the A.BM.U. and are
now on their way home came in to day and will go to
Matadi tomorrow. The train brought the missionaries
tonight for the A.B.M. They have peculiar names but the
only ene I can remember among them is Mr. Frost, he
brought a gun up from Matadi for me one which had been

at Matedi for about 14 months. Tonight I made out my

tax list and sent if off. Goodnight.

Thursday Jan. 13 - 1898
Very early this a.m. I got up and went down to the train
to see Mr. and Mrs. Glenesk off for Matadi. I had made
ready a package for Mr. Wright for the post, but the P.M.
would not receive it as this is not a full fleged F.C.
However I sent the package to Matadi by Mr. Glenesk and
he promised te post there. 1 came tack home and had
breakfast. Two caravans came in and I dispatehed them
with leads. Mr. Pinnock and Mir. Morgan left this after-
noon, in company with Messrs. Frost Cohn & the other
missionary who came last night ~ they went to W
a mest beautiful place and station ~ it is one of the
oldest on the Conge and is where Mr. Bently of B.M.S.
lives. The place reminds one of the Gardens in England.
It has nice walks and avenues one ave about a mile long
with pine apples on either side of the road. There are
beautiful flowers trees an shrubbery. The houses are
magnificent for a country like this - they are built of
Iron & brick. I spent 2 or 3 days there in Oct. 97 when
I was out rounding up carriers. At the same time Mr.
Bill & Miss Fisser married - I could not have had a nicer
time in America Mr. & Mrs. Graham were there alsoe Mr.
Morgan & Mr. Pinnock will be gone about 2 weeks or more
and we shall miss them very much. Mr. Graham held the
prayer meeting tonight on the whole everything is gong
on lovely and Sophie & I are both hell and hearty.

We thank Our Heavenly Father for all his goodness and
mercy to us, both for giving us strength to carry on the
work here so successfully. Good night.
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
ept caravan 126 of Oct. 11 - which I have
not yet heard from, and caravans 131-133/7. Hereafter I
shall send regular lists to the treasurer I hope ere this
that all the goods have been rec'd and that your troubles
are settled. I have just rec'd 125 loads for Luebo & mor
to follow I shall send some of my salt. Have patience.
God will not forget you and Im sure we will not at this
end of the line. Crowley.

Monday Jan. 10 - 1898-continued
After sending out the previous part by post at noon I
posted all my letters, and also sent a parcel to Matadi
to be sent by parcel post to Mr. Wright. Mrs. Graham
Mrs. Wooding and Mrs. C. were to begin school this after-
noon, but Mrs. G. who will be at the head was sick. Mrs.
W. not well, and Mrs. C. not having been here long enough
to learn any of the language felt her incompetency to go
ahead and a postponement of a few days is necessary.

Tuesday Jan. 11 - 1898
My wife and I are both well, and getting on nicely. Mrs.
G. is not well, yet. Mrs. W. is better. I went down to
see two friends this a.m. Dr. Legros & M. Silva whom I
found suffering with fever, but it is not of a lasting
type and will leave them today or night. Later in the
evening I called again the fever had vanished but both
were very weak. I had a caravan today and dispatched som
goods in quick order. good night - May Gods blessings
rest on us and all our friends and loved ones in the home
land and all our brethren in the Congo & all other lands
where Gods servents are at work.
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Friday Jan. 14 - 1898

All well today - things have gone on about as usual no
changes. Dr. Legras and Mr. Silva, director and agent
of Belgika came up this after-noon while Mrs. CO. was out
and I entertained them and made some tea for them and
gave them some doughnuts which they relished gladly.
These are the two friends whom I mentioned a few days age
who were sick, but have entirely recovered and come up te
express their gratitude to me for the kindness I rendered
and also for the nice dish of boiled custards ornamented
with nice strawberry jelly which Mrs. Crowley had sent
them. The train came in and a bog crowd was there to
meet it - as always is - for everybody expects to see
some one he or she knows & it is a preat treat to see
seme one whom you have seen before even if not related
nor a friend. I rec'd a card from my friend Dome joy who
said that the Congo Free State would-not receive parcels
to ke sent by post to U.S.A. so Mr. Glenesk was kind and

thoughtful enough to take it to Eng. and pest from there.
All well - good night.

Saturday Jan 15 - 1898

One more week has gone and it has been a pleasant one for
Mrs. C. and me. Mrs..C. loves keeping house and is a
splendid cook and has made some nice dainty little dishes
and sent some out to my friends who enjoyed them exceed-
ingly. You see they do not get any of the nice things
unless some missionary lady is kind enough to send them
there are ne white ladies in the Congo State except mis-
sionaries, with one or two exc
</next_page_context>

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