# 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, and separators. 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.

## 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.

## 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.
- `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.

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.

## 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-128

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
ea. Aug. 12 car. 121 - S.P.V. 2 whs. 5/7 Hawk 24/5 -
Thom. 16 - A.F.C.M. 3 rolls wire 28 lbs. ea. Auge 20
car. 122 ~ S.P.V. 3- Thom 15 ~- Aug. 23 car. 123 ~ APCM
Bales 263/8-270-272-Americani (Crowley) (Aug. 30 car. 124
-nothing) also 125 wescotts) Oct. 11 car. 126-WMM 400-
S.P.V. 3-410-Phipps 403-430-Thom 425-Hawk 29. Nov. 3 car.
127-Thom—413-424-§.P.V. 2-76-78-79-W MMe 401-407-Phipps
29-426-W.H.S. 74. Nov. 24-car. 128 8.P.V. 80/81-Phiprs
404-427/8- W.H.S. 75= (Dec. & excaravan Snyder) Dec. 13
car. 129-Snyder. 1 case liquids cases 1/5=6 in all. Dec.
15 car. 130 WM. 416 S.P.V. 1-4-409, Snyder cross to Sigr
Dec. 15 car. 131 — WHS 293-295/6-Hawk 298 Thom 289-S.P.V.
3-1-303/4, Dec. 17 car. 132 - Snyder 82-86/86~-74/74 W.K.é
292-297. Hawk 299/300 Thom 290 SPV 302. Dec. 28 car. 133
S.P.V. 2861/2411 WKS. Jan 6 98 car. 134/6 wom 408 Thom
291-SPV 305 W.H.S. 294 - Phipps 422-402-421, Jan. 12 car.
137-Phipps 4351-Snyder 496.

The above have all been sent to the pool and shipped
by Dr. Sims except caravan 126 of Oct. 11 ~ which I have
not yet heard from, and ceravans 131-133/7. Hereafter I
shall send regular lists to the treasurer I hope ere this
that all the goods have been ree'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 enougt
to learn any of the language felt her incompetency to go
ahead and a postponement of a few days is necessary.

Tuesday Jane 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 asm. 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 sox
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 worko
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
 1-5-11-12-202-203-201-204 - wffs. 537-
543-545. Mar. 10 car. 104 - 7 bags salt. Mar. 16 car. 105
Whs. 18 (Phipps 281-282-40-253-252-46-87-88. these belong
to mission but had Phipps name) S.P.V. 200-318-318 I
divided Hawk-137-137 another division. Mar. 24, car. 106.
Phipps 260-262-263-264-266-267-269-268 all these are
double loads and marked Phips, but of course belong to th
Mission. Mar. 25 car. 107 - Phipps 258-259-261-265-275-
278 These are the same as the one before. Mar. 27 car.
108- Phipps 254-274-279. A.P.C.M. 2 - 7 tins oil. I wish
I had not sent the oil as I need it here, but I did the
best I knew at the time. April 22 car. 109 - A.P.C.M. 17-
18-250. S.P.V. 130-131- W.M.M. 100/106. April 27 car. 110
A.P.C.M. 9 bales kamoza I bot from A.B.M.U. as per order
as follows: 91-250/3 - 245/7 - 249. May 19 car. 111-
S.P.V. 132-133 W.M.M. 111-112-114 - June 1 car. 112-
A.P.C.M. Bale 306 - W.M.M. 107/9 - 113 - June 1 - car. 11.
W.M.M. 110 - A.P.C.M. 305 1004 - 1006 - 1007 - June 5 car
114 - A.P.C.M. 26/29 - June 21 car. 115 - Mission 30/36
2 rolls wire 28 lbs. ea. June 22 car. 116 - mission 37/38
18 rolls wire 28 lbs. ea. 4 do 59 lbs. ea. 1 52 lb.
July 12 car. 117 - mission 1 tin matches 8 1/3 Gro. Thoma[s?]
17/19 Whs. 8/9 Hawk, 26 - July 17 car. 118 Whs. 10/14-
S.F.V. 284/5 amm 288 - Thomas 20/21 Hawk 28-32- July 3
car. 119 - S.F.V. 4 - 282/3 Whs 286 - Hawk 27 A.P.C.M.
2 R. wire 35 ea. Aug. 2 car. 120 S.P.V. 1 - Hawk 23-
A.P.C.M. Bales 269-271 - Americana (Crowley) - 6 wire 25
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
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. Fr
</next_page_context>

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