# 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-247

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Leo. Saturday April 29 - 99

This is a day only for getting ready for Sunday. How-
ever, we had an invitation to go out on the Pool for a
steam boat ride, but we did not feel that we could go

to Kinshasa & return for the sake of a few hours pleasure
& leave everything undone so we did not go.

Sunday April 30 - 99

Mr. W. preached this a.m. I in the p.m. we had quite a
congregation of whites - 3.3. was well attended. Every-
thing moving on nicely.

-B. Monday May 1 - 1899
™~= This a.m. Major Putteny left. By the way, I forgot to
mention that he had dinner with us yesterday. Cleaning
up around is the general order of the day. I bought a
patch of green corn & we will have roasting ears for
some days. Gome ower & have some green corn with us
today.

Tuesday May 294 99

This aem. I went to Kinshasa on the train. Ate dinner
with Gordons - Getting over a fence I tore very badly
my nice new trowsers that Sophie had just made for me

& today I was wearing them just for show (7) I went to
Ndolo in p.m. with Messrs. Howell & Glark to meet the
wives of the afore said gentlemen, who had been at home
in Eng. for 6 months and just returned to their husbands-
with them came Mr. & Mrs. Dodds, a newly married couple
& Mr. & Mrs. Whitehead - who have been to Congo before &
after a years vacation have just returned. The meeting
of the husbands & wives who have been separated so long
was rather cool for an American to witness - merely a
formal shake hands & then branch off on the topics of
the day. I got home at 7 o'clock just before a storm.

Wednesday May 3 - 99

Today we waited patiently all the forenoon to receive
the mail which came up last night. About noon were
given some papers - & some seeds. We thank you for the
boston papers & the garden seeds ~- and Flora for the
papers she sent ~ we have not had a letter from Mother.
We rec'd the April No. of Ladies Home Journal - the
first we have had this year - Jan. Feb. & Mar. we have
missed. Yet we have read them for Mrs. Gordon gets
them - & hot hers O.K.
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
 They are well & doing
well. In the p.m. the "Hainout" - a large boat from the
Haut Congo came in. Ville de Bruge has gone up the
river for some timber - will be back in a few days and
will go to Luebo. I have the promise of getting on
some loads on her. I went to the beach several times
the Engineer fixed the piece for Mr. Gordon's bike I
sent it over to him this p.m.

I took the cases down & put them on the boat at 2 o'clock
today. Sophie made some doughnuts & she and I walked
down to the beach. I took some to the captain. He was
very pleased with them when we came back our pollies
were waiting to be put to bed - we let them run at
large - but they never go far from the house. I forgot
to mention that Major Pelkney, the English Consul - today
came down on Haewat. He & Bro. W. walked to Kinshasa

I went to Kin. this a.m. on "Princess Clemontine" - came
to Gordons found that 2 steamers of B.M.S. had come in-
found Mrs. Gordon ill. Mrs. Forfiett was there - Mr.
Howell - Forfeitt - Clark & Jeffery had come to Leo.
Mr. Gordon & I rode over on our sheels & I found them
all at our house being entertained by Sophie. Mr.
Jeffery is on his way home, he has had fever for 8
months - He came out with Dr. Snyder & Sophie.

Today the steamboat Hainout came in & Major Pulteny the
British Consul came down. He is stopping at Mr.
Woolings - Mr. & Mrs. Forfeit went to Matadi on the Gov.
of French Congo's train. No other train went as there
was a break in the road. Nothing of interest happened.
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Lao. Thursday May 4 - 99

Today we heard that Mr. Jeffery had high fever ~ but
later that he was better. The Goodwill & Peace -
Mission Steamers will leave tomorrow. D.V.. The Steam
beat Brabant of the State came in today - Capt. has a
sore foot Nothing of interest

Friday Mey 5 = 99

This am. Hission steamers left & Mr. & Mrs. Clark
stayed to help nurse Mr. Jeffery ~ they are all at
Gordon's at Kinshasa. I went down to the beach this
peme & had quite a visit a capt. of steamer.

Saturday May 6 - 1899

After breakfast this a.m. Sophie decided she would go
te Kinshasa for a change & see Mrs. Gordon whom she
has not seen for a month or so 1 had the boys up &
the hammock ready ~ ehe got in and away they went - I
had to stay at home all day alone. I had the Saturday
house cleaning done I made up the bed - baked bread -
Sophie carried off the cook - as he is her pet boy =
so I had to get my own dinner. About 5 o'clock p.m. I
mounted a wheel & went to meet her - she got heme about
5:30 pem. Very glad to get back to her hubby, you knew(‘

Sunday May 7 - 1899

Mr. W. has sore throat & I & my bey Nkaku had the ser-
vice this a.m. For dinner we have green corn, salloped
oysters sweet potatoes & other things tee scarce to
mention. Mr. W. will have the service this p.m. Good
bye all well Stephen & Sophie

Monday May 8 - 99

Yesterday afterneen late, Mr. Gorden sent over fer me
er Mr. Weolings to go te Kinshasa & nurse Mr. Jeffery
through the night, as his temperature was higher &
needed
</next_page_context>

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