# 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-173

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Monday May 30

Felt worse today but managed to go to school and do not
want to let the people here know how badly I do feel.
will probably be all right soon.

Tumba June 18¢ 1898 ~ Wednesday

, Some time has elapsed since I last wrote a note in the
journal. I left last Tuesday for Stenley Pool, was gone
a whole week - & returned today. Sophie has taken care
ef everything nicely. Makes a first class mistress, and
knows how to manage the boys much better than I - when
I'm away. I had quite a pleasant stay at the Pool. But
was kept quite busy most of the time. I have reported to
Sophie all about the Pool.& work and we have decided that
we will not locate in the immediate vacinity of Leopold-
ville, but about 4 miles out & higher up on the Pool where
it will be more convenient for our work. We will be in
the midst of a settlement. The B.M.S. has a station & we
may locate on it & then be neighbors to Mr. & Mrs. Gordon-
if not we will be on the Dutch House ground & still be
within 50 yards of our friends. I am going to make bricks
and build a nice comfortable brick house ~ with modern
improvements for Africa (7) It took me 2 days to go by
train to the Fool & 2 days to return - tomorrow the train
will make its first voyage in 1 day ~ then it will take

2 days from Matadi to the Fool - a little later the train
will run through in one day - the distance by land on

foot from 15 to 20 days.

Thursday June 2 ~ 1898

Nothing of importance took place today ~ for everything
had been nicely kept up by Sephie while I was gene. Our
friend Silva sent us in some nice beef today.

Friday June 3 - 1898
I have, been developing photographs today & did nicely for
the 18 trial. good-night

Saturday June 4 - 1898

besides my work today I printed some photos the prints

came off nicely, the proofs, you know sometime are long
I shall be able to send you some photos I hope ~- I just

begin now to catch the photographic fever. Nothing alar-
ming -
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
 this
week so I am running the school with the assistance of
a native boy. get along nicely too - at night the boys
stay in awhile and I tell them English and they tell me
the Congo names - Don't you hear us laugh sometimes? We
have many a laugh together. S.C.

Finished a dress today, it is now very cold for Africa,
such cold winds, we have to dress warmly I have made my
navy blue outing flannel into a very pretty tight fitting
wrapper. Today, a letter from Stephen also cards from
Dr. Sims, who did not know he had started and wished
loads sent up in one d [illegible: unknown] I went to Mr. Pinnock and he
said he would send in loads, he knew to do [illegible: unknown] work for
Stephen

The boys went off early this morning with Mr. Pinnock
and loaded up a wagon for Ndolo, which is the nearest
point to Stanley Pool, where the railroad is finishes.
I forget to say that a Mr. Beadham a B.M.S. missionary
on his way home to England came in Friday and brought
me a letter from Stephen. Saturday night we were all
invited to the Woodings to eat Supper and had a very
pleasant evening. S.C.

Got up quite early intending to go to Congo service but
was taken ill and not able to go, not well all week but
thought it would pass away. Mrs. Wooding came over and
gave me medicine and in the evening felt better so went
to service at Woodings, had caught cold and had a bad
pain in my side, would have sent for Stephen but knew
he could not get here now better. 6 months married
today, how time flies.
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Sunday June 5 - 1898

Mr. Wooding preached in Congo language this a.m. to a
full house. After service we had communion - Baptists
in Burope & Congo are not close-comnunionists - only
those in America are selfish - Mr. Budham a visiting mis-
sionary of B.M.S. who is on his way home - preached this

afternoon - Mr. Morgan had the service at our house
tonight.

Monday June 6 - 1898

This afternoon I loaded up a wagon (car) with 300 loads
for the Fool - our transport with carriers now is nearly
over - the car will go out tomorrow. I have a bey whom
I will send with it.

Tuesday June 7 ~ 1898
Today the car did not go, but will go in the a.m. that
is the way we are put off. I took some photos today -

also snapped the school-maams as they came out of school
with the children -

Wednesday June & - 1898

was quite busy today in various ways - we had company for
supper Mr. Beadham & Mr. Morgan - we were to have Mr.
Pinnock but he was sick - good night.

Thursday June 9 - 1898

Last night we had some letters. I from friends in La - &
Sophie from Flora & Mrs. Thompson. It fills our hearts
with joy to get letters. Mr. Pinnock had some papers
telling about the war - but it seems as though. all the
news that we get here so far is hear-say. I shall ask
that all ovr letters be marked “via Anvers" or Antwerp -
We don't know what may happen to the maile the other waye
We know that war is going on & we know that the U.S. has
had some losses, but we know that the Fhilipine islands
were taken and
</next_page_context>

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