# 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-225

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Monday Jan. 16 - 1899

The boys cut wood, gathered mangoes &c. I felt a little
queer and about 5 o'clock p.m. went to bed & took my ten-
perature - I found it 102° I piled on the blankets got i
among the hot-water bottles, drank hot water, & began to
perspire most profusely ~ Sophie had not been feeling
well, but my having fever gave her such a scare that she
got well at once. After I had perspired freely for some
time I decided that my fever was going down, but on
taking my temp. again I found that it had gone up a
degree. I drank more hot water, hot milk an so on and
sweat freely for an hour or so longer - found temp. going
down took Quinine & in the a.m. was O.K.

Tuesday Jan. 17 - 1899

This aem. I got up, against the wishes of every one for
I had no fever - and I know about what the fever was,
but I rested on the Sopha nearly all day and did very
little work - train came in but did not bring bike nor
box - good=-night.

Wednesday Jan. 18 -1899

Today I am as strong as an ox. Had some cleaning up done
wrote letters &c. Henrietta Steamer came in from Kassai
but we did not get any mail from Luebo - the boat will

not go to Kassai this time but will go to Stanley Falls
on rout congo.

Thursday Jan. 19 - 1899
Another day has passed. No boat yet - the boat is out a
long time this time. Nothing of interest, I went to the
train expecting to get the bike & box, but they did not
come - Sophie is much disappointed - I believe I am more
so for I need the wheel - All well. good night - Yours
Crowley & wife
Friday Jan. 20 - 1899
Mr. Vass went to Kinshassa to-day. His first ride in
the hammock. He ate dinner with Mr. Gordon - Gordon
wrote me to buy him 200 quanga - a beautiful day.

Saturday Jan. 21 - 1899

I bought a lot of Quanga today - went to the train to

get bike & box, but was disappointed once more. Prepara-
tions made for Sunday - Good-night.
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
 Storm came up.
Capt. Lindstrum an officer of the State & Master of the
Steamboat Deliverance, had supper with us & stayed until
10 o'clock p.m. Good night.

Yesterday was Market day - when I should have gotten
Quanga for the boys but I had plenty so did not send.
Mr. Vass & Mr. Wooding went to Kinshasa today & took
dinner with Mr. & Mrs. Rogers - came back in due time-
walked bothaways - Nothing of interest happened.

Dr. Snyder is making preparations for going to Matadi
tomorrow. I have gathered some mangoes for Mr. Pinnock
& will send them by the Doctor. I bought his ticket &
made all ready-

Dr. Snyder went off this a.m. He will sleep at Tumba
tonight & resume his journey tomorrow. I rested all
day - for I was tired. Nothing of int.

Heard from Dr. S. he got to Tumba O.K. Mr. Pinnock rec'd
his mangoes. Market day & I got my quango for the boys
chop. good night.

Another unimportant day - I am anxiously awaiting my
bycicle for I need it so much. I shall now say good
night.

Today I did what was necessary about the place but
nothing has happened worth noting. I went to the train
thinking I would get my bicicle & our box - but I was
disappointed once more.

Mr. Wooding held Congo service service this a.m. & Mr.
Vass preached in the afternoon - Mrs. Crowley had S.S.
The day passed away easily.

Horizontal rule separating the preceding diary entry from the following paragraph.

If she goes home it will be probably the last of March
or the last of April - we are sorry it is so.
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Leo. Sunday Jan 22 ~- 1899

Mr. Wooding had the service this morning. Mr. Woolings
had the service this afternoon. While service was going
on I had Sunday School. Mrs. Crowley was not feeling
very well - at the S.S. hour but is all right at bet
time. Sophie thinks of going to Kinshasa tomorrow, she
has not seen Mrs. Gordon's baby yet - and it is now more
than 3 weeks old.

Monday Jan. 23 - 1899

I bought a lot of Quanga today for Mr. Gordon. I sent
him a letter telling him about it, but he had already
bought a lot for himself & did not need what I had
bought. I began at once to sell out and before night I
had quite a number sold by night.

Tuesday Jan. 24 - 1899

a beautiful day - Had washing done ~ & Sophie baked we
sent a boy over to Kinshasa to tell them that she would
be over tomorrow. I went to the train to see about our
box & bike - but to my disappointment, the box was for
Mr. Vass - so was disappointed again. Good night.

Wednesday Jane 25 - 1899

Today when we got up it was very threatening and before
we had breakfast it was pouring down rain in torrents -
so Mrs. Crowley was knocked out of her trip - perhaps
she will go tomorrow - the boy finished ironing the
clothes = our jock wash as we call him is not so good
as the one we had at Kinshasa and we miss a good washer-
woman so much. Good~night. Stephen & Sophie

Thursday Jan. 16 - 1899

This a.m. Sophie went to Kinshasa in a hammock I went
over on the train - we had dinner at Gordons - I did a
little business at the
</next_page_context>

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