# 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-292

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
us with a fair pertien of health. Hepe we may continue
fer many years te ceme - sent fer beef teday but get
nenee Had fowls instead. Geed night.

Leepeldville Thursday Nev. 30 = 1899

We suppese this is thanksgiving day in America, but with
us it is just the same as ether days. We are having ne
nice feasts of Turkey & ether good things but we are
blessed just the same with geod health - for Genge ~ and
feel that we may be ef seme service to the Lord. May
Ged help us te -

Friday Dec. 15* 1899

Teday I had a memorandum frem State permitting me te
put 50 charges on “Ville De Bruges" which will leave
pert en 4th T must get them at beach temerrew morning -
rather shert notice, but am glad of the eppertunity.

Saturday Dec. 294 1899

Arese very Early ~ get Morgan's men en with mine & seen
hed my 50 charges en beard the "Ville de Bruges" had
my way-bill signed and all finished - the rest of the
day spent in preparations for the Sabbath after giving
eut chop & rations &e.

Sunday Dec. 3rd 1899

Nkaku & I had the service in Cengo this merning ~ large
congregation - after the sermen a cellection & a nice
pile of brass reds ~ Gongo native money ~ a goodly ne. pu’
in as much as 10 cents & seme more.

In the pom. we had the Eng. service - and a fairly
geod congregation attended. Mr. Morgan preached. After
which a cellection - we take a cellection every ether
Sunday. When the "Ville de Bruges* came in the ether
day, we had letters from Luebo = all were well = but a
little war geing en around them. Jones (Eng.) Captain,
said he had a good time with the people at Luebo and
ate doughnuts. He came ever today te service and after
he had a cup ef tea & some doughnuts with us. He ate
éupper with Mr. Mergan.
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
 Mrs. Gordon left Mrs. Grenfell stayed at Kinshasa-
Friday Nov. 10 Good-will came in with Mr. & Mrs. Rogers
on board & Mr. & Mrs. Howell. Steamer stayed until
Wednesday & went off. Mrs. Grenfell with a lot of her
girls came over on Monday Nov. Nov. 13 - & stayed all
night & most of Tuesday - I have made several trips over
to Kinshasa Mrs. Rogers very ill. Good Will left &
Mrs. Grenfell stayed again at Kinshasa. Nov. 12 - Mr.
Gordons baby died at Tchimberi - on steamer - took it
to Bolobo for Interrment. On Tuesday Nov. 21 - S.S.
Good Will came again to Kinshasa. Mr. Grenfell Master &
Mr. Gordon came down. On Wednesday steamer came over &
all had dinner with us had a nice time. Friday Mr.
Grenfell's boy had an operation performed on his hand-
a tumor cut out - by state Dr. Vaidos. He will stay in
one of my houses until the Henry Reed comes Tuesday 28
Nov. Mr. Grenfell sent large boat over with some planks
&c from Kinshasa. Wednesday he sent some rice. Mrs. C.
sent him some doughnuts. In the p.m. steamer left leaving
Monsendi in charge. We desired them over to dinner with
us on our Anniversary but they could not come.

Wednesday Nov. 29 - 1899
Anniversary!! We had a little diner today & had Mr. Morgan
with us Last year, 3 of those who were with us on the
corresponding day - Messrs Woellings, Morrey, & (Miss)
Dr. Fleming - have gone to their homes above - had a very
pleasant quiet day - gave the boys a little fish so that
they could have a little feast also. The Lord has blessed
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Menday Dec. 4 ~ 1899 - Lae.

After a light breakfast I went te the beach with seme
cakes & news papers fer Capt. Jones & I get on beard
with my wheel & went to Kinshasa. I left the steamer
at S.A.B. & went to Belgika. I feund the steamer ready
te go acress the river te Brazzaville & I was invited
te se, se I wrete a nete te Sophie & went ever. I got
on shere with my wheel, and a little afterwards the
Custem efficer came & stepped me & told me I had tres-
passed that I had brought a bicycle inte French Congo
with eut declaring it. I was cempelled te go to the
Custem house & after an explanation the chief ef the
custems told me it was alright. In the mean time the
neen hour had passed, and I had lest my dinner I had
some distance then te go to Mr. Gresheff's but there I
had a cup ef tea & seme crackers ~ which did pretty well.
I then went eut & called en the different members of

the firm & went back to the boat, but it did net attempt
te return until-after 6 e'clesk p.sm. when I get back te
Kinshasa it was just dark and I had 10 miles te go
before I came home. I rede on as best I could about

2/3 ef the way but it was toe black te ride farther, so
I walked a short distance & came to a camp ef one
senegal & native beys at werk for ch. de fer. J asked
fer a lantern & ene was lent me & I got a bey te run
along with me & held the light. I arrived home in fairly
geod time & had supper & was much refreshed. I retired
early and after I did go te sleep I slept pretty well
all night. G
</next_page_context>

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