# 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-011

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
see the horses but if he is absent the guards take a
little more privilege I presume for the amt. which the
visitors give them. The Duke's horses are the finest
in the world. At Chester Mr. S. & I separated and I
arrived at Liverpool about 7 o'clock pem. I went to
the different R.R. stations to try to find my trunk
which I left with Mr. Morrison. He had left it with
the American Line Steamship Co. and there was no way
of getting it until Monday a.m. so I went to the Law -

Hotel (Temperance) and put up till Monday. Bed 3/
with attendance. A good night's rest.

Nov. 25 ~ Sunday

After a late breakfast I went to Mt. Pleasant Church —
Fresbyterian ~ and heard the Rev. Mr. M°Lean preach a
grand sermon on “Life or Death. I walked about again
and rode in the elevated street R down to Langton's
Dock where the Waesland was and found the head steward
"Harry." I then went to the Hotel - “Clayton Square"
and after tea I went to hear the Rev. Mr. Nutall Cong-
regationalist preach on "Great St. George St." Then I
went to the hotel and retired early and had another
good night's rest.

Nov. 26 - Monday

Went down to the American line office after breakfast
found my trunk had it brought to Lime St. Station
purchased a ticket for London. Beautiful country all
the way. Left Liv. at 12 n & arrived at Euston Station
@ 5:30 pom. Bro Morrison met me and I went with him to
the Anderton Hotel on Fleet Street - had supper and we

sat up until 2 a.m. making a list of goods needed for
our trip.

Nove 27 - Tuesday

Went around early to Whyte Ridsdale & Co. 73 & 74 & 15
Haurdsditch Bishopsgate, London, E., England, then we
began our work. Went to the grocery store - placed
the order ~- tent mng. placed the ord. to the Clothier's
placed the order to the Ruffer Man's placed an order
Mackintosh & geloshed then to shirts hosiery, etc. did
not quite finish & Mr. Robert Whyte - excellent gent -
left us - he going to Hourdsditch & we going to the
hotel. After supper we went to Bridgewater Square and
engaged rooms at a Temperance Hotel (Tranter's) then
we went back to our rooms and retired.
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
ter dark 5:30-
the days in this country are from sunrise 7 a.m. to
sunset 4:45 - and I found the Brazen head Hotel where
I put up for the night. After looking around Dublin
quite a good deal, I retired. the hotel was a regular
Irish House run by an old maid. A very pretty Red
headed girl waited on table.

Nov. 24 - Saturday
Arose in morning and went down to the Keys where the
boat was, and thinking it but a short distance,
decided to walk, and carry my grip which was quite
heavy. I kept inquiring & going farther and at last
after 1/2 an hour's walk and lugging a heavy grip I
arrived at the boat and purchased a ticket for Holyhead,
a beautiful little city on a little island on the N.W.
part of Wales. On the boat, "Shamrock," I met a Mr.
Southerland, a very pleasant English Gentleman, and
we made the voyage across the Irish Seas very pleasant.
The sea was very calm and no sign of or symptoms of
sickness came over me. We both had dinner - luncheon-
on the boat. The cost 3 s. Arriving at Holyhead we
boarded the train, I for Liverpool & he for Crewe. My
fare from Holyhead to Liverpool was 8/6. Mr. Souther-
land held a 2ⁿᵈ class ticket, but in order to be with
me he rode in a 3ʳᵈ class coach as far as Chester, one
of the oldest cities in Eng. and a very historic place.
At this place Duke of Westminster resides. The Estates
are grand about six miles from the main part of the
city. The drives are free to any one but when the Duke
is at home no one is allowed to go into the stables or
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Nov. 28 - Wednesday

Went to BridgeWater Square & told the Land Lady we
would be here sure tonight then to Hourdsditch and
finished placing order. Bo't 1 Pr. shoes left measure
for other. Went to the Rower Bridge saw a ship pass
through and the graw go up and come down — walked across
on the highest part - 205 steps up & down each - a
marvelous structure. Then we went through the tour of
London - saw St. John's Chapel Royal Chapel where all
the Kings & Queens from John the Conqueror to Blizabeth
worshipped. Saw all the different armory - many - &
several of the Kings etc a grand sight - then we went

to St. Peter's Chappel where prisoners were taken before
execution ~ and after execution, were interred. Lady
dane Gray - Sir Thos. Moore etc. It is wonderful to
think where I stood where these people were beheaded

for no cause whatever. Then we moved our luggage to
Tranter's Hotel B.W. Sq. and we are here tonight. Now
we go around the corner to the annex to cur room and
retire. The hotel is full.

N.B. A little discrepancy in the days from the gth until
now - please note.

Nov 27 - Thursday

Arose early (8:30) & Bro M. & myself after breakfast
went down on the Thames bank and looked around a good
deal then we went to Westminster Abby and followed the
guide who carried us through.all the different chapels
and explained all about the different kings & queens
who were buried there. Then we were at liberty to go
over the other part & look at all the statuary - where
was the statue
</next_page_context>

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