# 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-033

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Dec. 26 ~ Saturday

Another bright morning. Xwsas is over and now we are
nearing the Equator. One fellow proposed that we take

a photograph of ite. The Quartermaster is now going

with a list of names in his hand. I think those who
have never passed the Equator. It is the custom to
baptise all who pass that great belt in honor of Neptune,
so I guess I om in for a wetting. About 11 o'elock we
passed the Equator and the 15* mate had the tank (a tank
made of the ship's canvas sails) ready and at 2 o'elock
the time appointed for the service, the Bell was rung
and @ shot from the eannon was fired and out came the
sailors with an accordian, steel triangle & the drum

and they were all painted in the most hideous ways all
bear~footed and feet & legs painted nearly to the knees.
After playing a tune one fellow with blue spectakles took
a triangular piece of wood with something like a boot

on the dash board of a buggy to hold. the whip and through
this he looked and made as though he was getting the
Equator and when he had looked long enough, he pronounced
good then there was one who read 5 or 6 verses of poetry
in German and then the performance began. Some one's
name would be called out and he would go to the place

" prepared climb up on a little stepladder sit on the

edge of the tank with his back toward the water then 2
men one with comb & seissors (wooden) another with razor
brush & lather = razor, wood - brush, big paint brush -
lather, very dirty and such a daubing mess as they would
make of him when all at once they would grab him by the
leg and dump him backwards into the tank of water - of
course its being of canvas it would not hurt, and then
the 18t mate stood with a hose just like is used by the
fire companies and just poured the water on him this of
course wag a baptism in honor of Neptune. All who had
not passed the Equator befcre had to go through it but
from some cause Armstrong, Morrison end myself got out
of it. Morrison however, got wet, as did every one else
who stood and watched the performance - nearly ~ a few
exceptions, I being one. Anyone whose-name- was called
and who refused would have a rope put about his waist

and be dragged by several men se no use to rebel. Well,
they had a glorious time - «ll seemed to enjoy ite Our
ether missionary, Wescott, who had quarters with those
of the 2nd cabin hed to go into ite The remainder of the
day passed off very pleasantly, only I hed a slight head
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
each side of the ship & were
counted and instead of being (200) two hundred, were
(77) seventy-seven. You should have seen the 2nd mate
calling the roll. He is a German & cannot talk much
English but he called the names in English, in such
broken Eng. that about 1/2 the no. could not understand,
and then he would burst out in a storm of passionate
words, not sweet. I think he went through this perform-
ance about 3 times, and finally succeeded in getting the
names to correspond to the men. About (7) seven o'clock
p.m. a canon was fired off and a large red blaze was
left on the water which we could see for some distance
after we had passed. After supper I went around to the
sailors department. All Germans, and there they had a
Xmas tree. A small tree whitted out of wood with limbs
and cotton stuck on the upper side of the branches to
make it look like snow. Little cakes were hung on it,
and in the absence of real oranges, apples, Bananas &
were some made of tin foil. On each limb was one or more
pieces of candle and when all were lighted it looked very
pretty. I told them a little story of the birth of the
Savior & and spent about 15 minutes very pleasantly with
them. They also had a piece of steel made into a triangle
and one fellow Jingled that and made a merry chime
keeping time with an accordian and a drum - the latter
being made by themselves. I then went back to my state
room and found the other boys gathered there for prayers
so I joined them. Now I will say good night.
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
ache -~- (mal a la tete) and relieved myself very much
by taking 3 gra. of calomel. About 9 o'clock we had
prayers, and then I retired. Good-night.

Des. 27 = Sunday

I got up feeling much better thanks to our kind Heavenly
Father, who has guided my footsteps all along the
pathway of life thus far - and after breakfast I took a
dose of 4 gers. Quinine. I then read 7 chapters of the
Book of Dan'] and enjoyed it very much. After dinner I
read a very fine sermon written in "The Southern Presby-
terian Pulpit® but of course preached by the rev. Dr.
Hodgee In the afternoon, not long after dinner Bro.
Armstrong was taken with fever and went through the
course as Dr. Sims suggests, getting under heavy blankets
to reduce the fever, take a very strong p gative

5 to 8 gr. calomel and 5 to 10 grs. of Jallop. After
the fever was reduced he tock 15 grs. of Quinine which
relieved him very much in a short timee Morrison sat

up all night with him and. got no sleep except little
snatehes which he got in a deck-chair. Bro. Wescott and
myself repaired to my state-room and had a little prayer
meeting by ourselves excep the presence of the Holy
Spirit which we felt sure was in our midst, for you know
the bible says: "Where two or three are gathered together
in my nawe, there I will be in the midst of them. It
has been very quiet among the passengers all day today -
and we thought it due to our prayers for them. I now
retire and hope we all may have a good night's rest.

Dee. 28 = Monday

Gettin
</next_page_context>

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