# 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-278

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Monday Aug. 28 - 1899

Went dewn to the State beach - saw seme people - invited
them te come te service ~ Met the Commissaire ~ had a
business chat with him - "Ville de Bruge” came in with
letters frem Luebe all well - but Merrison had had a
little fever - want me te buy seme cleth & beads fer
them here.

Tuesday Auge 29 - 1899

A truck for A.B.M.U. is in with seme leads en it fer the
State. About 3 o'clock this pom. Mr. Banks en Henry Reed
came in we at once had some ef C.B.M. leads carried te
Steamer & put on + it was late befere they were finished.
Mr. Banks is alse chepping with us. He will leave toner-
rew pem.s & take the party with him.

Wednesday Aug. 30 - 1899

Messrs. Banks, Milne & Sjeblem had a leok at an oid house
here which I have been negotiating to buy. I had made an
offer of $200, but they came to the cenclusien that it wa
worth $500. I gave them a little advice & reasoned with

them & seen brought them te their senses - se under cer-

tain cenditions I would rent a small piece of ground &

' purchase the house = the purchase be 60, er $300, & the
rent ef the ground te be $30 per annum - then we went te
see the com. & he unloaded the wagen - at neon we had our
geeds unloaded and at 4 o'clock they left. I went to
Kinshasa with them & ceme back on wheel. Mr. Gorden
sick. We are now alene. Good night.

Thursday Aug. 31 ~ 1899

Busy with letters & other work. Sephie net well has feve:
tonight - taken with a chill this pem. has temperature
103° sweating freely. Hope the fever will be gone by
morning - gave purge 3 gr. Calomet in broken doses with
seda ~ 10 gers. Quinine ~ Good night.

Friday Sept. 1°* 1899

At 5 e'clock this a.m. fever had gone temp. normal - gave
10 gr. Quinine better all day. I bought seme cloth from
Portugese 25 pCs Kamaza at 9 frs. 40 pes. cheek at 5 fr.
16 pes Red - blk berder 6 frs 30 pe. Blue € 5.50 fr. Went
te S.A.P.V. to buy pearls but net permitted to sell - as
director M. Boudour is up the Kassai - Sophie better -
ne fever - Geod night.
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
to
keep it from falling - did a good job - also sent for
Quanga for boys - sent off letters for post-

Thursday Aug. 24 - 99
Another day spent in various ways very busy just as we
were eating supper we heard a steamer whistle & went down
to the beach - the Pioneer had just arrived with 8 on
board 6 missionaries going home to Europe C.B.M. Mr.
Woolings being gone I had to make all the necessary
arrangments - came back had the baggage weighed - carried
to depot ready to be off at 6 o'clock in the A.M. Sophie
made doughnuts for the party - good-night all well.

Friday Aug. 25 - 99
Say the Party off this a.m. took chg. of boat - the capt
went to Matadi - I had to borrow the money for their
passage 3500 francs ($700) sent two telegrams - one to
Tumba & one to Matadi - all day work - good night.

Saturday Aug. 26 - 1899
Cleaned house some, making preparations for Mr. & Mrs.
Miln bro & sister-in-law to Mrs. Clark. Sophie was not
feeling well, but when I came back from P.O. with Mr.
Sjoblom, the train had arrived very early & Mr. Miln had
come down to the house there I found Sophie in full dress
ready to receive her guests - So I went up with Mr. Milne
& we had the baggage brought down. Mr. & Mrs. Milne are
very nice - both scotch - We expect their Steamer, the
"Henry Reed" down on Tuesday next.

Sunday Aug. 27 - 99
Mr. Milne was too nervous to take service today. I did
it & Mr. Sjoblom had his instrument & sung a swedish
solo. Sophie was not feeling well - had service with the
boys-
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Saturday Sept. 284 1899

Last night Sephie had Quinine 5 gr - this a.m. 10 gr.
Quite well teday - Expected MacGregor & Mergan in tenight
but celenel Thys the chief ef Ch. de Fer came up so all
ether passengers were excluded. M. &M did net come ~- we
had nice baked fish ~ but ne one te help us eat it. at
Supper time a man came in he had ceme up frem Matadi -
with a nete frem Mac. He will be up Tuesday. Morgan is
engaged te Miss Meyers. I still have abeut 35 men &
Pieneer to leok after - will be glad when Mac. comes.

Sunday Sept. 3rd 99

This aem. very early I had breakfast Sephie had hers in
bed on account ef the early hour. I rede to Kinshasa te
see hew Mr. Gerden is - I get back at 10:30 this a.m. ~"»
This p.m. I had the Eng. service. Sephie was out & led
the singings I had Nkaku take service this am. & S.S..
this pem. so as to let Sephie come to church. The boys
have just gone eut. I have given medicine ~ & a new bey
whe has had some palava - got burned & I fixed him up, se
new I will say geed-night - all well.

Leepeldville Monday Sept. 4 - 1899

A wagon lead ef geods came in fer the G.B.M. Saturday but
it is net unleaded yet as the Co. has not taken it to the
preper swich. As Mr. Weolings is away, I am attending te
all the transpert. I went down to the state place teday
had a general leek around ~ have McGreger's men cutting
woed ~ se they will have a goed quantity fer him when he
cemes - expect him tomerrew.

Tuesday Sept. 5 - 99
Am busy leeking after everything about t
</next_page_context>

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