# 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-163

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Tuesday April 12.~ 98

Nothing of importance has taken place today. I experimente
in taking some views ~ don't know how they will come out.
Not well-I guess. The Congolia Company hae not paid for
the youse yet. We do not know whether we will move soon
er net. Good-night.

Wednesday April 13 ~ 1898

Loctoring boys today - some sick with colds - some fevers=
some diarrhea & other ailments. And ox tongue, fresh today
for dinner ~ sometimes we have good things and sometimes
we do not have things that are appetizing. On the whole
though, we do very well. Mr. Pinnock preached tonight ~
Congo service.

Thursday April 14 - 1898

This asm. I rec'd 13 cases for Wescott Bro's who ere
missionaries on the Sankura River on their own responsi~
bility, and I have egreed to do their transport for them.
I had them put in the magazine to await carriers. Last
night we failed to get any mail. To night I had a surgical
operation to perform - one of my boys had his shoulder out
of place & I set it for him. We always have a good time
:every night with our boys in the house for prayers and
they are delighted to be permitted to remain & sing after
prayers. Sometimes they ask lots of questions and tell us
things. Tonight they wanted to know what Mrs. Crowleys
name was for they said they never heard me call her by any
other name than Mrs. C. We told them and they were muchy
pleased. There is a deer on the prairies here that they
call nsefi (sd f€) so they thought Sophie had a nice name,
the knew my name, but they always give a Congo name to
every man and sometimes to women. My name though is mumu
(Lord or master) Maugaugu (very wise) or as they express
it wise too much! Mr. Morgan preached tonight.

Friday April 15 = 1898

It rained nearly all night last night and the greater part
of this fore-noon, but faired off and a pleasant day.
Sophie not feeling well, a severe head-ache. Portugees
mails came in tonight and brought her a letter from Mrs.
Wright ~ Flora. Miss Harden, corresponding secretary of
West Minister league of the Pres. Church Quitman Ga. tellin
that that Society had decided to contribute as much as pos~
sible toward paying her salary. Nice of them was it not?
and perfectly strangers to us. Head-ache gone plenty
letters & good news will cure most any case of headache
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
ne here knows how to prepare it except
Sophie & I am the only one who appreciates it. Sometimes
we divide with the neighbors, but we only give them
enough to make them hungry for it, and they pronounce it
delicious. Mr. Woolings went home or at least started
for Stanly Pool today about 10 o'clock. good-night-
all well

[graphical feature: Small curved non-textual mark in the left margin beside the Saturday entry.]

A very pleasant day. Not too hot - cloudy - Congo service
Mr. Wooding - Accra & Sierra Leone service tonight by Mr.
Wilks a visitor - Dinner is now announced we have stuffed
ox heart cabbage &c besides the ordinary - this morning
for breakfast we had eggs, both hens & pigeon's - Dinner
over a short nap. No service this p.m. postponed till
evening. Just about to take a walk stopped by a visit
from Madam Sollner - 5 o'clock began to rain. Mrs.
Graham came in - wore a new dress that Sophie made & gave
to her - still rains - no service tonight - all well -
good-night Stephen & Sophie

[graphical feature: Small curved non-textual mark in the left margin beside the Monday entry.]

Mr. & Mrs. Graham preparing to go home. Mr. & Mrs. Slep-
pard reported coming down - they are of our own Mission.
Mrs. Sheppard on her way home. Mr. Shep will accompany
her as far as Matadi probably - and return to Luebo. They
have been out over 4 years. We looked for the mails today
but they did not come. Sophie is taking great interest
in her school work. Nothing else of importance. good-nigh
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
write again and good newsy & cheering letters. good-night

Saturday April 16 - 1898

We have had a delightful time last night and today reading
letters & papers. I had letters from Morrison & Verner
at Luebo + saying that Mr. Mrs. Sheppard will be here in
a few days on their way home, or rather Mrs. Sheppard. It
will be nice she can have the company of Mrs. Graham to
England. It is awfully nice to get so much good news.
Letters papers, misstonary &&. But if it could be dis
tributed more regularly along it would be nicer, but we
will not complain. If we move it will not teke letters
any longer to reach us for Stanley Feol is the terminus
of Shermin de Fer du Congo" and it will be only 14 days
from Matadi. I hardly think we will go to Luebo to live.
House cleaning &c for Sunday. good night

Sunday April 17 - 1698

A nice day pleasant. Mr. Morgan's turn te preach the Con-
go service but he got a native to do it for him. Sophie
& I did not go as she had a severe head & back-ache. She
slept nearly all day. In the after-noon Mr. Wilks preachec
to the Accras. I went but Sophie did not. After service
she was better & we had a little walk. Service in the
evening was at our house & Mr. Wooding preached All there
or here except Mrs. Graham who did not feel well enough

to come out. About 9:30 p.m. we retired and had a nood-
night's rest.

Monday April 18 - 189&

This am. Sophie got up feeling considerably better = but
shortly after breakfast she began to feel badly again =
head & back-a
</next_page_context>

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