# 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-235

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Leopoldville Tuesday Mar. 7 - 1899

Today we had been expecting the mail & I wrote some
letters. I went to the P.O. while Sophie had school &
posted the letters which I had written - while there the
P.M. told me that we would have the mail tonight. When
we last heard from home mamma Wright was ill & Sophie
was very much worried about it - so of course we were
very anxious to hear - so after supper I went to the
P.O. & had to stay until 9:30 o'clock - but at last I
got mamma's letter & I started home at once to read it
& make us both glad that she had recovered - the rest
of our mail we will get tomorrow.

Wednesday Mar. & - 1899

Mr. & Mrs. Graham sent us from England a photograph of
their little son, John, & two photographs of a group of
one of our men & his wife & some friends of his in
Tumba - one was for him. I wrote a letter to Mr. Graham
& asked him to let Fapa & Mamma Wright know when they
went to Brooklyn or call to see them I don't know what
they will do about it ~ but if they go & don't have a
chance to call on them at versailles they will let them
know they are in Brooklyn. The only letter we had from
home was from our Mother, and it pleased us so much to
hear the good news of her recovery. We had some papers
from Flora. She never forgets us with papers even if
she does neglect us with a letter occasionally. We had
the Christian observer & Jan. missionary.

Thursday Mar. 9 ~ 99

Nothing of interest happened to-day only we put on a new
boy to wash & he did not like it, although he went at it
without much grumbling and did it quite nicely.

Friday Mar. 10 - 1899

The boy did the ironing today and did it very nicely.
He says it is hard work & he dont like to do it. §till
building fence - Getting quite an enclosure. I was to
have gone to Kinshasa but I did not.

Saturday Mar. 11 - 99

This aem. I said good bye to Sophie & took my bike down
to the boat for it was to have left at 10 o'clock, but
they were loading on some mules & were having a hard
time getting them on, one fell into the river several
times & I asked the owner if he would permit me to try -
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
ast, I heard her whistle and I went
down with three of the boys with a canoe and lashed it
to the steamer and went to Kinshasa. I saw my goods all
loaded on & had Bills of lading signed and started back
in canoe we came down to Gordon's and I had dinner-
after I bought a tin of matches from Dutch House & 2
bath tubs from Mr. Gordon - then with these and two
cases in the canoe, we started home getting in about
4 o'clock in good time.

This a.m. I went to the P. Office & saw the Gov. Gen.
M. Wangermée - He told me he wall call to see me to-
morrow - and asked after Mrs. Crowleys health. You see
he was acting when we were married.

This a.m. we looked for the Gov. Gen., and about 1 o'clock
he came with his secretary. He paid us a nice visit of
about ½ an hour and left by expressing himself delighted
&c. He will leave for Boma on Monday a.m. next.

We are building a fence around the place or part of it
at least. Mr. Woodings & I - it is too public and every
body makes it a high-way - some of our neighbors (colored
do not like it but we can't help that. Tonight I caught
one of my boys gambling and this morning I paid him off
& told him to go - I did not want him anyway - although
he was our wash boy.

This a.m. Mr. Woolings went to Kinshasa to spend the day
& Nkaku our head man preached to the Congo boys & I
preached in English in the p.m. we had a good day - but
not many there.

We are still building fence. All our boys carrying
sticks for same - nothing of interest taking place.
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
so I made an attempt - petted the mule a little & led

it around some & then started up the wide plank to the
boat - the mule followed nicely & I was congratulated -
the boat would not leave until 2 o'clock so I did not go.
Game back home &.

Sunday Mar. 12 - 1899

Sophie had a big $.S. Mr. Woolings preached this a.m. I
in pem. not very large congregations - we have great
times putting our pollies to bed every night. Lilla has
laid two egg & we hope to have some young parrots some
day all being well + good night -S3&S8

Monday. Mar. 13 - 1899

Had the boys getting sticks, building fence &c. Nothing
of interest happened. Sophie began writing some letters.
She wrote a nice little story which she will send to the

Christian Observer at Louisville Ky. Ovr church paper
you know.

Tuesday Mar. 14 - 99

Sophie had her old washer-woman to do her washing today -
this woman did our washing at Tumba. She is the wife of
our head man. She washed very nicely, and did the
starching herself so Sophie had nothing to do at all.
About the same routine of business.

Wednesday Mar. 15 - 1899

Mrs. Gordon was reported not well, so Sophie offered to
over to Kinshasa & help her with the baby - but they
said she was better, so she did not go. Work about the
same as usual.

Thursday Mar. 16 ~ 1899

Still building fence - not yet finished - work in other
respects about the same. Sohpie's school is good, and

our little prayer meeting every night seems to be much

enjoyed by the boys.

Friday Mar. 17 ~-
</next_page_context>

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

## Explicit repair attempt

The prior response failed deterministic validation. Return a complete replacement
object, not a patch. Preserve the source reading and fix only the structural or
schema problems listed below.

<validation_errors>
- canonical: part p235-b004-p002 line 1 has block_end before the last line
</validation_errors>

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