# 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-105

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
very proud for I had longed for them & prayed that they
by sent out before my carriers should return. Now there
are no loads in Matadi for the mission at all. God is
Good & provides for his children. I learned that the
R.R. was out of coal & no more trains would run for some
days, so I was fortunate in getting my goods at the last
. Moment. After unloading the car I went to see my patient
' & found him quite well but not entirely free from pain.
I told him to come again at 5 o'clock & I would make him
right. He did so & I washed him out thoroughly on the
inside & I never saw a man so proud. He saw some bibles
& I sold him one. He then wanted to pay me for my
trouble but I w'd take no pay. He then offered me 5
francs for my mission which I accepted in the name of
the Lord, & will turn it in to the funds which are being
collected for our new chapel. He went away glad for I
gave him some bread for his chop & some quinine to take.

I had a pleasant visit at Mr. Grahams tonight & it
was nearly 11 o'clock before I left. I have written
this since I came home I think I have done a little
something for the Lord, but very little, today.

May God's blessings accompany anything good which I
may or have done at any time.

Friday, July 9 - 1897

Another day spent in various employments. This a.m. I
went over & paid the catholic priest a visit & spent a
very pleasant hour. at the close of the time he desired
me to give some money which he owed to Mr. Graham - rep.
B.M.S. He said he knew me & did not know Mr. Graham. I
avised him to go over & I would introduce him (Pere
Berte) to Mr. G. & he went & enjoyed his visit very
muche In the pem., after opening some goods Capt.
Gremonini came up to see me for a short time & we had a
very pleasant conversation. I went down with him & I
met a former acquaintance a French man, Mr. Bachete who
said he was on his way up to see me. I was glad to see
him & asked him to wait until 8 o'clock p.m. & then come
which he did & we had a very nice little visit for 14
hours. This man has been in America & Canada & has been
over the world a great deal. He is a catholic but does
not believe in them. I did not try to preach to him but
as we talked some on the subject of religion I opened the
bible & let him read some passages for himself. The
Holy Spirit will do the rest.
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
come.  Mr. D'Angremond will go to Inkissi
tomorrow to see about building a house.

⟦deleted: Tuesday July 7-1897⟧
⟦deleted: A day of very little progress, but progress in Africa is⟧
⟦deleted: slow⟧

Wednesday July 7 - '97
Today, nothing but the usual work done & some little
preparation to cover the house which has been under erec-
tion for some time.  At 6 oclock I went down to meet the
train but knew no one although a no. of passengers came
in.  As I stood in the door of the Dutch House, for I had
just bo't 17 Gross of matches (2 tins) A Nijn Heer Van
den Eynde came and asked me to go & see a man who was at
his house ill.  So I went.  I found him suffering from
constipation for 5 days, & learned of his complaint.  I
asked if the Dr. had seen him & he said yes & showed me
the medicine he had left for him - 1 Bot Castor (2 oz.)
which he instructed him to take ½ in the morning & the
rest the next a.m.  Instead of waiting till a.m. I fixed
the med. up for him then & made him take it.  I then had
him come to my house after supper & I gave him an inema
injection of water & releived him right away.  He went
to his shinebeck & had a good night's rest.  The first
for 4 nights.  No more of importance but the fellow seemed
very grateful.

Thursday July 8 - '97
This a.m. shortly after breakfast Mr. Wooding came over &
bro't me a letter from Dr. Chester and one from sophie.
I was in the medst of the latter when the ag't of Chermin
de fer came in & told me he had some goods for me.  I was
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Saturday July 10 - 97

In various ways, the day was very well spent. Nothing
of interest took place in the a.m. In the pem.as I was
coming from my dinner, I stopped in at Belgika for a few
minutes & met a man who was ill & suffering from Cold.
Capt. Cremonini asked if I could so anything for him & I
told him yes, so I brot him to my house with me & fixed
up some medicine for him. Nest-day—he-had~e-slisht
fever—beoause—he-did-—not-feliew & so it goes I am contin-
ually relieving the sick Van den Borge.

Sunday July 11 - '97

I went to service this a.m. after which I went down to
call on my i11 friend. I found him with a slight fever,
because he had not followed out the directions which T
had given him. However, I again gave directions with
harsh & stern words & they were carried out. I was told
a few minutes ago. Int p.m. I went to service & a Mr.
Lowen conducted the meeting. I had the pleasure of

bringing out a Mr. Von den Eynde. At night he came out
again with me.

Monday July 12 - 97

A day spent in varbus ways. I sold two goats a few days
ago. JI had one stolen from me on the two, I made enough
to cover loss of the stolen one. My friend had no fever
today. I sent off a caravan of 7 men & paid off one of

16 - I sat up until 12 o'clock to get off some letters.

Tuesday July 13 - 97

This a.m. I arose very early to have my letters posted.
My sick fr'd carried them to Matadi for me, I should
not say my sick fr'd for he is no longer so.

Wednesday July 14 ~ (7

This a.m., I t
</next_page_context>

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

## Explicit repair attempt

The prior response failed deterministic validation. Return a complete replacement
object, not a patch. Preserve the source reading and fix only the structural or
schema problems listed below.

<validation_errors>
- canonical: part p105-b001-p001 line 17 has block_end before the last line
- canonical: part p105-b001-p001 line 21 has block_end before the last line
</validation_errors>

<prior_response status="invalid">
{"page_id":"page-105","page_role":"content","boundary":{"starts_mid_block":"yes","ends_mid_block":"no"},"blocks":[{"id":"p105-b001","order":1,"continuation":{"from_previous":"yes","to_next":"no","previous":null,"next":null},"evidence":{"status":"not_attempted","method":null,"ocr_word_ids":[],"bbox":null,"matched_tokens":0,"total_tokens":0},"type":"diary_entry","date":null,"place_source":null,"content":[{"id":"p105-b001-p001","order":1,"evidence":{"status":"not_attempted","method":null,"ocr_word_ids":[],"bbox":null,"matched_tokens":0,"total_tokens":0},"type":"text","role":"body","lines":[{"line_number":1,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"very proud for I had longed for them & prayed that they"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":2,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"by sent out before my carriers should return.  Now there"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":3,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"are no loads in Matadi for the mission at all.  God is"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":4,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"Good & provides for his children.  I learned that the"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":5,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"R.R. was out of coal & no more trains would run for some"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":6,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"days, so I was fortunate in getting my goods at the last"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":7,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"moment.  After unloading the car I went to see my patient"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":8,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"& found him quite well but not entirely free from pain."}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":9,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"I told him to come again at 5 o'clock & I would make him"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":10,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"right.  He did so & I washed him out thoroughly on the"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":11,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"inside & I never saw a man so proud.  He saw some bibles"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":12,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"& I sold him one.  He then wanted to pay me for my"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":13,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"trouble but I w'd take no pay.  He then offered me 5"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":14,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"francs for my mission which I accepted in the name of"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":15,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"the Lord, & will turn it in to the funds which are being"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":16,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"collected for our new chapel.  He went away glad for I"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":17,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"gave him some bread for his chop & some quinine to take."}],"line_end":"block_end"},{"line_number":18,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"I had a pleasant visit at Mr. Grahams tonight & it"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":19,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"was nearly 11 o'clock before I left.  I have written"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":20,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"this since I came home  I think I have done a little"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":21,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"something for the Lord, but very little, today."}],"line_end":"block_end"},{"line_number":22,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"May God's blessings accompany anything good which I"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":23,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"may or have done at any time."}],"line_end":"block_end"}] }]},{"id":"p105-b002","order":2,"continuation":{"from_previous":"no","to_next":"no","previous":null,"next":null},"evidence":{"status":"not_attempted","method":null,"ocr_word_ids":[],"bbox":null,"matched_tokens":0,"total_tokens":0},"type":"diary_entry","date":{"date_source":"Friday, July 9 - 1897","date_normalized":"1897-07-09","normalization_status":"normalized","normalization_confidence":"high","normalization_reason":"Mechanical ISO formatting of the unambiguous visible date."},"place_source":null,"content":[{"id":"p105-b002-p001","order":1,"evidence":{"status":"not_attempted","method":null,"ocr_word_ids":[],"bbox":null,"matched_tokens":0,"total_tokens":0},"type":"text","role":"dateline","lines":[{"line_number":1,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"Friday, July 9 - 1897"}],"line_end":"block_end"}]},{"id":"p105-b002-p002","order":2,"evidence":{"status":"not_attempted","method":null,"ocr_word_ids":[],"bbox":null,"matched_tokens":0,"total_tokens":0},"type":"text","role":"body","lines":[{"line_number":2,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"Another day spent in various employments.  This a.m. I"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":3,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"went over & paid the catholic priest a visit & spent a"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":4,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"very pleasant hour.  at the close of the time he desired"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":5,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"me to give some money which he owed to Mr. Graham - rep."}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":6,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"B.M.S.  He said he knew me & did not know Mr. Graham.  I"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":7,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"avised him to go over & I would introduce him (Pere"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":8,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"Berte) to Mr. G. & he went & enjoyed his visit very"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":9,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"much.  In the p.m., after opening some goods Capt."}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":10,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"Cremonini came up to see me for a short time & we had a"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":11,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"very pleasant conversation.  I went down with him & I"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":12,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"met a former acquaintance a French man, Mr. Bachete who"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":13,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"said he was on his way up to see me.  I was glad to see"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":14,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"him & asked him to wait until 8 o'clock p.m. & then come"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":15,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"which he did & we had a very nice little visit for 1½"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":16,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"hours.  This man has been in America & Canada & has been"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":17,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"over the world a great deal.  He is a catholic but does"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":18,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"not believe in them.  I did not try to preach to him but"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":19,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"as we talked some on the subject of religion I opened the"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":20,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"bible & let him read some passages for himself.  The"}],"line_end":"no_hyphen"},{"line_number":21,"segments":[{"type":"text","text":"Holy Spirit will do the rest."}],"line_end":"block_end"}]}]}],"editorial_notes":[{"id":"p105-n001","kind":"continuity","target_block_id":"p105-b001","text":"The page begins mid-entry; the entry's date heading is not visible on this page.","responsibility":"model","confidence":"high"}]}
</prior_response>
