# 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, and separators. 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.

## 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.
- `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-049

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Think I will be able in a few days to get it off and
several other things that are in the R. Re Station. I
went down to S. S. Edward Bohlen & there Mr. Clippingdale
w'd have me ride in his boat down to the Mission. He
sent out and borrowed Mr. Harvey's overcoat for me, as

it was raining. When I got to the Mission I found there
a Sweedish friend who sailed all the way from Antwerp to
Boma with us. He was on his way to the upper Congo.
Morrison will go with him as far as Tumba, and may be
farther. Now I bid you good night and as God has blessed
me thus far I put all my trust in Him to carry me through
in safety all the way. By the way — there was a man of
the Re Re Employ who died today at 12.0'cloek and was
buried this pem. Cause of his death, as is the cause of
many, too much booze ~- too much drinking. He was en a
big spree several nights ago and died from the effects.
May the Holy Spirit deliver this country from drink.

Tuesday, Jan. 12 ~ 1897

Arising early this:a.m. Morrison, Dr. Alderstharti,
Lagerin and myself went up to Matadi, and after looking
around some with Morrison he finaly purchased some cloth
to make a ecever for his Helmet. Then we went down to

the &.S. Boma where he purchased some more things. Then
we came down to the station and dinner was ready so we
dined and at 2:30 o'clock I had to go to the P.O. and
answer to a telephone message from Phippae Ohl You =
should have heard the cracking. You see the sun is 80
hot that it effects the wires in the pom. At any rate

I managed to get the message & all went well. I then
went over to the &.S. Edward Bohlen on which S.S..was our
goods and we found them akl except 2 packages. We had to
carry them to the station (depot) the afternoon before
the train leaves, it runs every other day - and as Bro.
Morrison is desirous of going to Tumba tomorrow it is
necessary to get all the goods off with him. We are
allowed to carry about a ton of stuff with each passenger
provided there is room ~ not free however. You are only
allowed 220 lbs baggage, all over is excess. After hard
work, the hardest was looking at the darkies work, for
they are the slowest mortals on earth and dull of com-
prehension. We got all but 2 pacages off to the depot.
We then came home and had supper & Bro. M. prepared for
his journey. Now good night.
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
 lived up country at
Stanly Pavol for over 2 years & Mr. S. has been on the
upper Congo & lower for over 8 years. After a pleasant
visit with them they went home and we had supper and
prayers and retired for the night.

Monday, Jan. 11 - 1897
Getting up early this a.m. and feeling well, it being
cool and pleasant, a little cloudy, and some what
inclind to rain. I waited for breakfast after which I
was greeted by 2 letters from J. E. Phipps, saying that
on account of Mr. Verner preventing him from ordering
lumber the house was not finished and there was no room
for us at Tumba, but that if we had tents we might come
on and live in them or if we would wait at Matadi about
2 weeks longer he would be better prepared - he further
asked that I get some onions & fish, rice &c which was
in the R. R. store - and had been there some months for
him. Imagine the onions are in fine shape by this time.
I would hate to have to eat them. I walked up to
Matadi from the Mission station (Londe) and I found it
pretty hot. I went down to the C.B.M. sta. and had a
little visit with Mr. Clippingdale, and there I met Mr.
Harvey of the A.B.M.U. who [invitea?] me to chop with him,
which I did and enjoyed my dinner very much. He told me
several things concerning Mr. Verner's purchase of the
land at Tumba and some of his rash breaks while at
Matadi. I then went to see the director of the R.R..
Clow and could do nothing definite in regard to getting
a car to get to Tumba, the rest of our lumber. However,
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Wednesday, Jan. 13 - 1897

I was suddenly awakened this a.m. at 4 o'clock by the
alarm of one of those little waterburg's. I woke M. up
and we had breakfast, or at least M. did ~ and we were
off for the depot by $ past 5, as we were told the train
would leave at $ past 6. I went to the ship and asked
the Mate if he had found the packages and he told me no.
I then went down in the hold - as I had done previously -
and found one of the packages, the very which was needed
most, as it had some of Bro. M's things in it. And after
weighing the goods which was about 1200 lbs, and seeing
them on the train and Bro. M. ready, the train pulled out
from the station an our late. You should see the train.
An Engine very small, as the track is not more than 2¢
feet wide, one long car, like our coal cars, and a
caboose, like we have on our frait trains, with 12 basket
chairs in it. The open car is for baggage. It only cost
about $48°° to ride one hundred & ten miles, about $5°°
per 100 freight. After seeing M. off we came home and
had breakfast and I read most of the remainder of the
day. This pem. I had a letter of instructions from
Verner, noting a whole lot of his unfinished business to
attend to. It is in a mess too. I think the committee
made a mistake in giving him autherity to do business or
rather represent the A.P.C.M. and do the business for
from what I can learn’he has not a particle of bus.
sensee I'm sorry but it is soe I also got two letters
frou Phipps. Now I will retire so go
</next_page_context>

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