# 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-175

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Friday June 10 - 1898

Today we sent our mails. I toned some photos - am now
quite an artist. probably will send some next mail. Not
good, you know, but does well for a beginner. Nothing of
importance happened today. good night -- oh, yesl Mr.
Sheppard came tonight, and will leave for S$. Fool on
Wednesday next - tonight we rec'd papers.

Saturday June 11 - 1898

This day spent in making preparations for Sabbath making
up accounts &c. have taken another subscription for
Christian Observer & prumium bible - Shep. packing up his
goods to be ready for train Tuesday.

Sunday June 12 - 1896

It was my turn in the Congo service this a.m. & Mr. Wood~
ings for Eng. in pem. so I exchanged with him Mr. Sheppar¢
took my place in the pem. I also had the service at
night - Mr. & Mrs. Wooding had been reading a presbyn book
on infant baptism and they tried to get up an argument
with us ~ but we would not argue.

Monday June 13 ~ 1898

Nothing much of importence - Sheppards goods were packed
and placed on the train ready for his departure in the
morning

Tuesday June 14 - 1898

Bro. Sheppard went off this asm. we were up very early -
did all that we could to help him on his way. I wrote to
Gordon Dr. Sims & Morrison

Wednesday June 15 - 1898

I mounted some photos on cards & presented each of my
boys with a group - they were highly pleased - tonight
brought us a letter from Mother Wright, and also a big
batch of papers from Anna Baker - lots of good reading ~
our friends & relatives are all so good - we know that
war is going on and we see from all accounts that
America is 0.K. yet & hope it will always be sow. S$ & 3.
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
 our transport with carriers now is nearly
over - the car will go out tomorrow. I have a boy whom
I will send with it.

Tuesday June 7 - 1898
Today the car did not go, but will go in the a.m. that
is the way we are put off. I took some photos today-
also snapped the school-maams as they came out of school
with the children-

Wednesday June 8 - 1898
was quite busy today in various ways - we had company for
supper Mr. Beadham & Mr. Morgan - we were to have Mr.
Pinnock but he was sick - good night.

Thursday June 9 - 1898
Last night we had some letters. I from friends in La - &
Sophie from Flora & Mrs. Thompson. It fills our hearts
with joy to get letters. Mr. Pinnock had some papers
telling about the war - but it seems as though. all the
news that we get here so far is hear-say. I shall ask
that all our letters be marked "via Anvers" or Antwerp-
We don't know what may happen to the mails the other way.
We know that war is going on & we know that the U.S. has
had some losses, but we know that the Philippine islands
were taken and a number of shipps-
we hope it will be
soon over-
today I developed some more photos and gave
instructions to Mr. Silva You see I am not only an apt
scholar but already an instructor-
I have made some good
friends with many of the Europeans that are here-
and I
have been blessed abundantly by it. I wait on them in
sickness I speak to them & shake hands with them in
health and all seems to be very favorably-
good night
tomorrow we post for America. S & S
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Tumba June 22 - 1898
Messrs Whyte Ridsdale & Co
Lendon -
Dear Sirs: - Flease send the following to Kinschasa
Stanly Fool - Gongo -

1 case 1 1b American oysters

3-3 lb bots. soda By.cor.

3-¢ lbs * cr. tartar

1 Dz 2 1b tins best butter

1 Dz 21bs "bacon

2 Doz tins Apples in syrup

1 owt Granulated sugar

& "“ light brown cane sugar for cooking
< chopped sugar

1 Gallon Dark-common Molasses for cooking
$ Dz 1 1b tins Dried peaches

1 Kleme figs

3

2

1

#
-2 oz bots vanilla Ex.
2 " #

Lemon Ex.

-2 " ” peppermint Ex.

1 Dz bots Enos French salt

1-5 1b jar ground alum

1-1 lb bot. amonia fort.

1 ewt carbolic soap 1 1b. bars
“Primrose soap

box-3 cakes in box cuticura soap

Dz tablets unscented Pears soap

~1 1b bet pure glycerince

¢ Dz violet powdere

1 Dz large oxford sausage

1 Dz Marrowfat peas

500-5 gr. tablets sulphate quinine

6-1 02 bottles sulphate 4

1 Gallon turpentine

1 # Castor oi] (ol. Racene)

1-5 1b. Jar Hypesulphite seda

8 oz sulphocynide amonia

4 tablets chloride gold

1 1b. chrom powd. alum

& lb. French chalk

$ 1b. Hydrochloric acid

6 boxes Powells compound pyro soda developer

Vie aS

he OB
</next_page_context>

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