# 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-090

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
who was taking Congo sketches for the Paris Exposition.
A Mons. Castelane. I saw a number of his sketches &
they were very nice. Tonight we were to have a meeting
of our committee but on account of Mrs. Pople's ilness
it was posponed.

Tuesday May 18 - 1897
Nothing happened today worthy of note. So the day closed
with nothing more than the regular rounds of duty.

Wednesday May 19 - 97

Tonight was my turn to lead in the native service which
is regularly held every Wednesday night. I gave out the
hymns &c. & made a little talk after my assistant had
finished. He interpreted for me we had quite a pleasant
& I trust, a profitable meeting. Good night.

Thursday May 20 - 97

Today I wrote some letters & did some other work. I
licenced a Kapeta, Siasia by name, who lives at N'Gombi
He only had 4 men, but I thot that he lived near by &
might prove a valuable man. I sent him to the Fool with
2 loads for Verner & 3 for Morrison.

Friday May 21 - 1897

After chop I took the boys & began trying to finish their
house. I put up the east side & the roof was put on.
NKaku whom I had engaged sometime since came in today.

He speaks Eng. & is a good Christian.

Saturday May 22 - 1897
In the early morning I had the boys bring up small stones
to put on my walk. After chop some went after water &
others went to sweep off the yard & straighten up for
Sunday. In the p.m. I gave them their weekly allowance
of soap &c.

The day passed off with but little accomplished. J
cut off Bro. Hill's hair in the p.m.

Bro. H. & wife are going to LuKungu to live. I shall
be sorry to see them go.

Sunday May 23 - 97

Today, the Sabbath made for man to rest & worship & serve
the Lord is a beautiful day. last night we had a most
refreshing shower which helps everything very much - we
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
ut where we blew it up
the hole became much larger, and was of no use to us, so
we did not get a chance to kick. Nothing of much impor-
tance done except that I bo't some chop for the boys such
as they had been wanting for a week. I gave them their
soap candle & fish, weekly allowance.

Sunday May 16th 1897
Once more the day of rest & gladness has rolled around.
After the works of necessity in the a.m. I made ready
for the [fiot?] service at 10 o'clock. Mr. Frame was leader.
Just as I sat down to dinner a colored brother J. T. Bell
of Pitsburg Pennsylvania U.S. America came to the door
& enquired for Mr. Phipps. I told him that he had gone
& invited him in. I gave him some "chop" & we had quite
a talk he stayed until after service & I called on him
to pray. I was to lead the service this p.m. but we had
no congregation as the judge had called all the acras &
coast men up for trial. The sierra Leon's & Senegal's
had a little war & some 8 or 10 were killed and a no.
wounded. At the appointed time for service, 4 o'clock,
we assembled in the chapel & only 2 of the regular no.
of colored men came to attend the service - so we had no
sermon as I was leader & we worshipped God by sones &
prayers & a scriptural reading. At night we had a service
at the C.B.M. & Mr. Wooding conducted it. Good-night.

Monday May 17 - '97
Just before day-light I heard it raining & it was avery
nice rain it came down pretty hard but no wind was with
it. After chop I went down town & I met a French Artist
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
are just now on the beginning of the dry season & the
rains are coming less frequent - in fact, we are glad to
see them come & welcome them. I attended the Fiot service
& Mr. Frame had charge. Quite a good house & all went
off nicely. I am now ready for my midday meal -~ dinner
over I went down to the Dutch House to see my friends
for I had not seen them for several days; about 3:30
o'clock just time for service, it raind a good hard rain
and we had no preaching for the Acras. At night there
was no service as Mr. Wooding & wife were off. Mrs. Hill
was needed to assist Mrs. Popel who is dangerously ill.
Messrs. Morgan & Pinock were engaged also. So Mr. Frame
& I were the only ones left & we did not have service. I
read till bed-time and then and retired.

Monday 24 ~ May - '97

2 Kapeta's with their caravans came in for pay» I was
about to give it them but they belonged to A.B.M.U. & Mr.
Hill needed them to go to Lukungut and asked me not to
pay them until tomorrow. One of these Kapetas took Phipps
to the Pool & he was very liberal with his dash's for six
of them had orders for Quilts, Hdkfs. Fish &. It was

ok, though for he had no hammock. Nothing of interest
took place during the day.

Tuesday May 25° 1897

This morning I tore the roof from the boys house that I
had just erected & put the zinc on the south veranda for
a room for MKaku.e. It will make a very nice room for him
& make him feel his importance. Nothing much of interest
took place only I paid the Capetas. Good ni
</next_page_context>

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