# 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-153

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
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 25 carriers came in and I have
been busy all the p.m. getting off loads, marking &c.
About 5 e'clock I put the saddle on the donkey and gave
Mrs. Crowley a ride, somewhat scarey, but learning rapid]
after awhile she will be equal to any occasion. She is
keeping in excellent health, and we both have much te
thank eur Dear Lord for. I have been very fortunate in
getting all loads up.

Thursday Mar. 3 - 1896

After breakfast, Mrs. C. & I went to visit the stores to
try to find some material that would do to make a little
baby a dress. Mrs. Sheppard of our miseion Luebo had a
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
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 not give them loads until tomorrow. We
have been getting mails ready. While I was unloading the
car it began to rain very hard & when I had finished,
during the intervals of rain, I went to the house, but
Mr. Graham called to me & there was Mrs. C. I went in &
we had a cup of tea with them. All well good night.
We hope all our loved ones & friends at home are well too
J.S. & Sophie Crowe

This a.m. I loaded my carriers, sent off the loads &c 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 elso of much importance.
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
little girl bern Xmas & Mrs. C. wants te send it a nice
dress. Nothing in the stores suitable but we found some
cleth at Mrs. Graham's which we get, and now Mrs. C. is
making a pretty little drese. It will be so nice, you
knew, to do something for our friends on the upper River.
If we only knew on coming out the things that are needed
in various ways for missionaries & their comferts as well
as the Congo people - Remnants of cleth, laces, embroider.
silks, satins, ribbons and all such things, thread (silk)
of various colors for feather stitching. But the next
time we come we will know better. May the Lord bless us
to do good work here. After dinner the usual rest for an
hour or two, for it is so het from 12 to 3 that it is
dangerous to stir about too much. Mrs. Crowley is enjoy-
ing the school-work very much and seems te be in the
height of her glory when she is teaching the little ones
something. Sometimes she cuts out garments and teaches
them how te sew them. She had another ride on the donkey
after school. Mr. Cameron has a little fever, but better
and tomorrow will be well D.V.. Good-night.

Friday Mar. 4 - 1896
We always make it a point to read a chapter in the Bible
together morning and night, and we get so much good out
of it in this way - reading alternately. This ig always
after breakfast & after supper. Then Mrs. C. goes about
her work & I mind. Today Mrs. GC. Sephie - I shall not sa;
Mrs. C. any moree Today Sophie has been learning texts
ef scripture and a song to
</next_page_context>

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