# 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-081

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
down to see how my friend was & I found him in the office
at work. So we are both well again Thanks to our Lord.
We came out on the same ship , he came to Tumba a few
days before I did - & we were both taken ill at the same
time, I think he one day longer than me.

Saturday Mar. 27 - 97

I opened up 2 barrells of crackers today that were here
when I- came & they were both ruined. goods of that kind
can't come to this country packed in that way. We have
a barrel of Beef here too, but I guess that will spoil.
Verner had no business ordering things in that way. I
took supper with D. tonight ~ while there the mail train
came in ~ it is the 15* time we had any mail this week.
Paid off 2 caravans today, 15 men & 19 men.

Sunday Mar. 28, 1897

Service in the a.m. for native beys as usual, led by Mr.
Wooding. Service in the pam. as usual for theAcras &
Gera Laone's. At night we had the regular service for
the missionaries at my house, led by Mr. Pinnock - the
afternoon serve. was also led by Mr. P. I had a short
call from a Portugees & two Belgians this Pole

Monday Mar. 29 - 97
Nothing of interest or worth relating today. I worked

at my house making window shutters as opportunity pre-
sented.

Tuesday Mar. 30 - 1897

This was another unimportant day in my history. Did not
much but worked a little when 1 could, had the boys
cutting grass but they only do vert little.

Wednesday Mar. 31 ~ 1897
Another very similar to the two that preceded it. Mr.
Popel is still very ill. It will be a hard fight for

him to pull through. Mey God have mercy on him & his
wife.

Thursday April 1st 1897

In the asm. I worked some wrote some bus. letters &c.
In the pom. I was taken with a running off of the bowels
& with chilly sensations at the same time. I paid but
little attention to it as I thought it might naturally
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="raw_ocr_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
the Dr.
of the state employed & give him 3 b per month, & yet

we call on you when we are ill at one oclock I went
into his room & he was perspiring freely but very hot
with fever ' waited on him a 4 an hour or so and was
going to give him an aenema they sent to the Dr. for the
syringe & said the Mr. D' had fever & the Dr. came too.
You see we all came out on the seme ship together Dr.
Dinieh, Mr. D. & myself so we are all friends. He told
the Dr. what he had done & the Dr. said "bon" - good - &
after a little conversation he left. I was feeling
dreadfully bad all this time, so I went home & went to
bed. JI had taken the necessary medicines & about 4 pom.
I began to sweat & kept it up all the night. About
past 2 a.m. my temps began to lower & I began to take
Quinine & by 7 a.m. I was normal. I kept quiet all day
& took the required med 3 capeta's came in & wanted
their pay. I put them of until the nex day. Mr. Hill
of the A.B.M.U. came in & helped me very nicely. Morgan
Wooding & Penock came in & called Bro. Fenock sent over
a change of blankets & pillows which was very aeceptible.

Friday Mar. 26 - 97

I went to work paying off the caravans & when I had the
3 paid off one of them wanted more loads. I had none
except large ones & he took then. I was glad to get
rid of thea as I would have to unpack & rep'K in smaller
packages & send up country. But the Lord is good &
provides those things for those whom he counts worthy (I
don't say, however, that I am so) In the psm. I want
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
follow the disease but by 9 o'cloek pom. they were worse
& I took a good purge & retired for the night covering up
properly with blankets. I had a very bad restless night
but about 3 o'clock a.m. a reaction set in & I began to
perspire very freely. At 3:30 I took a big dose of
Quinine & again at 6. I kept very quietly all next day.
I had no fever but from the frequent evacuations of the
bowels I was very weak.

Friday - April 2"% 1896
Today still very weak but feeling much better. I remain
in the house most of the time & keep very quiet.

Sat. April 3, 1897
As yet I aa not strong but am about & still troubled with

my bowels. I went down town & posted some letters but
trudged along very slowly.

Sunday April 4 - 97

I felt so feeble I did not attend the service for the
natives this asi I went down to the Duteh House & got
dinners I did not feel like eating what I had at home.
They had a good dinner & I ate heartily. I attended the.
service in the p.m. led by Mr. Wooding & also the service
at night held & Mr. Woodings C.B.M. (communion service)
led by Mr. Morgan. There I met Mr. Rogers & wife who
have been at Stanley Pool for nearly 4 years.

Monday April 5 '97

4n old caravan or rather an old capeta with a large cara-
van came in & wanted a new license. I had no leads for
him & therefore gave him no books I have about 25 leads
for Luebo on the R.R, between here & Matadi & have been
coming. since the agrd of March, but have net yet come

in. He promised to stay 3 days & wait f
</next_page_context>

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