# 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-087

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Thursday April 29 - 97

Last night on retiring I took Quinine & this a.m. also.
Had a restless night last night - many dreams now much
sleep. No cause except Quinine. Today I worked some on

my house & This pem. it rained & no work done - went dom
town & did a little business.

Friday April 30 = 1897

Did some work on the boys house & also on my own. Sent
3 beys to bush for 4 stieks. Dined with D'Angremond
worked all p.m. weather boarding. Borrowed Duarte's gun
& made preparations for hunting tomorrow. Good night.

Saturday May 15* 1897

Arose very early this asm. and had an early breakfast.

It had rained considerably during the night but had the
appearance of being a fine day. We were mistaken, as it
began to rain & rained very hard until about 12 m - the
lengest rain I've seen since I've been in Afriea.e I read
some traets & passed most of the rainy a.m. in good
reading. We did not go hunting as you see, on ac. of the
rain. Good night ~ with prayers & best wishes for friends
& relatives and for all who are laboring for the cause
of Xt.

Sunday May 224 197
Attended all the services but spent most of the day
reading. Comaunion service at A.B.M.U. Bro. Hill led.

Monday - May 3°4 197
Today we intended to go hunting but could not find the
time & put it off until Sat.

Tuesday May 4th 1897
Did very little out of the ordinary todays Went to the

Duteh House & he promised to let me have his carpenter
tomorrow.

Wednesday May 5*» 1897
_Arose early & was ready for the carpenter but he did not
come early. I had a B.M.S. Bey also to help me. I gave
him a little book & pencil for dash. I worked all day
to finish ceiling my house. We finished & now I eam secure
from sun & rain - unless there is too much wind with the
latter then it comes thro.
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
ight with prayers & best wishes
not only for my good health, but also for all others.

Last night I took med. This a.m. it acted freely. I
had two boys cutting grass & two putting together zine
for a boy's house & kitchen. In the p.m. 1 kapeta with,
10 men came in & wanted a book. I saw fit not to give
it. Another came in for pay - I payed him. Most of the
p.m. was spent in bying chop. After supper I went to
C.B.M. to attend a meeting of our committee, on the plan
of building a new chapel. At 10 o'clock we adjourned
to meet tomorrow night to finish. Good night & may God
bless & care for me & all others.

Arose feeling good. Did a little toward building the
boy's house. Went to town called on my Dutch friend.
After dinner gave a caravan loads - 8 Bales prints for
Dr. Sims. Sent one bale Kamaza to Pool to be sent to
Luebo. Wrote a letter to Mr. Harvey asking for no. of
Declaration. Went to town & posted it. Met a Mons.
Becquet French & talked with him about religion. He is
coming to have a talk with me the nextime he comes to
Tumba. At 8 o'clock I went to C.B.M. to attend the
adjourned meeting of our committee to finish up the un-
finished bus. we left last night. After a pleasant
meeting we adjourned & came away at 10 o'clock. I am
now ready to retire. Good-night.

Did some little work Had a call from Mr. Frame in a.m.
In p.m. Mr. Nordheim took 3 o'clock tea with me. At
night Devart took supper with me after which I preached
to him indirectly. I had him reading the scriptures.
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Thursday May 6th '97

Made a door & hung it and put up some window shutters.
Now I have my house enclosed. We had a nice entertain~
ment to night for the Acra's &. Quite a no. took part
& everything passed pleasantly.

Friday May 7th '97

Today I made two legs for my table. I had a table here
that had only two legs & they screwed in. I asked some
carpenter if they could make them & screw them in & they
said no, they had no tools for the purpese. I went to
work & made them myself.

Saturday May ath 1897
Put my table together & now it is ready for use. Gave

the boys their usual weekly allowance - candle soap &
fish.

Sunday May 9° 1897

I did not go to the morning service - was kept busy in
my house & bathing &c. I took dinner with my friend
D'angremond. Come up in time for p.m. service. Mr.
Wooding led. It rained & there was no congregation only
2, so we had a little prayer service. At night, service
at A.P.C.M. & I preached not many of us but we enjoyed
it just the same. May Gods blessings rest on His word
and may the Holy Spirit accompany the Word and take it
to the hearts of men & bring them to the saving grace
of Jesus Christ.

fonday May oth 1897
Kept quite busy today at various things.

Tuesday May 1th 1897
Watching after the ducklings & young chiekens ~ looking
after the boys &ec. my time is fully employed.

Wednesday May ath, 1897

Worked at the various employments which come up about
the place.

Thursday May 13th 'o7
Got some locks & bolts from BM.8. & put them on do
</next_page_context>

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