# 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-118

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
is also a slight complication & she is very nervous
which accounts for the fever staying up so. I had 2
caravans to day and with the aid of Mr. Pennock a colored
brother of B.M.S. I got them loaded and dispatched them
for the Fool.

Thursday Dec. 16 ~ 97.

Mrs. 0. still has fever - she and I both had a very bad
night - she very restless and I kept very busy waiting on
her. Today Mr. Graham lent me a carivan and Mr. P. loaded
them and I dispatched some more goods to the Pool. Later
I got a caravan from Mr. Morgan of C.B.M. and Bro. P.
loaded & dispatches them. I have now nearly all the loads
sent out and they will go up to Luebo on the same steamer
as Dr. Snyder. «

Friday - Temperature still up. I called Mrs. Graham in
last night while I had a good rest. These people are so
good. Today Mrs. C. seems better but very nervous we
hepe for the better tomorrow.

Saturday Dec. 18 - 1897.

Last night at 12 o'clock Mr. Pinnock came over and sat up
while I slept in the room to assist him. Mrs. C. had a
very bad night but her fever seems none the worse.
Thursday eve. I called in the Dr. & he said the nervous-
ness was nothing and as soon as the fever was gone that
would be good. Friday a.m. he came again and said she
was much better. Gat. a.m. today he came again and pro#
nounced her better - but in reality she is just about the
same very restless. The Dr. said he would not come again
& I told him good, for he did not a bit more than I did
and did not charge my treatment. Her temperature went
down this aem. but went up again. She had a rather hard
day of it.

Sunday Dec. 19 - 97.

Last night Mrs. C. rested better in the early part - and
had several little naps but in the early asm. became very
restless. Between 7 & 9 o'clock we both had a good nap.
Bach. It is now 3 o'clock and she has slept nicelyiall day
waking only for medicine & nourishment. I think the fever
will leave her today our kind Heavenly has been with us
in our trouble and we give Him praise.
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
 rest.
Good-night.

This was a bright beautiful a.m. and we thought what a
delightful day to read and study and preach, but about
10 o'clock this a.m. Mrs. C. was taken ill and went and
had a little rest - she did not go to dinner and when I
came back I found her in high fever. I immediately took
steps to alleviate her sufferings but all to no purpose
and the fever went on so all day I have been nurse and
doctor. I hope by morning she will be normal and soon
be right. Good night.

I sat up and nursed Mrs. C. last night -- she did not
sleep at all - rather hard on her to be taken sick so soon
but such is the life of some in the Congo. Some have to
be initiated at once while others never have to take the
initiatory degree. I for one have not been initiated
yet. Thanks to our Father for his loving care over me.
All day the fever was or has been bad and Mrs. C. seems
not to be able to get any rest. I sent off a caravan
today to Stanley Pool with Loads for Dr. Snyder. As soon
as I got the 1st one loader another came. The Lord is
gracious in supplying our needs. Mrs. Graham has been
here with me to relieve me some.

Another night with no rest for Mrs. C. and very little
for me. Our neighbors are the best and we lack for noth--
ing in the way of comfort in illness for our friends are
so good and kind and willing to do anything for us. I
hope she will be better tomorrow.

Mrs. C. has fever yet. temperature ranges from 100° Far.
to 103° it is very obstinate and hard to put down. There
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Sunday Continued -

All the pem. Mrs. C. has been resting exceedingly well.
This is 8 days now that she has been in fever and today
is the 18t day or night that she has had any real rest or
sleeps Thank the Lord she is now clear of fever I think
but will not be certain as it has been several hours since
I took her temperature. But all points to a speedy re-
covery for her. Mr. P. is coming to sit up and watch
until 1 shall have had a few hours sleep & then he will
retire. Now I shall say good-night.

Menday Dee. 20 ~ 97. ;

Last night I had a good night's rest as Mr. Pinnock sat
up with Mrs. Crowley. I slept in the same room on a cot
and only awoke when my presence was needed. Mrs. C.

slept fairly well too only waking for some nourishments
every hour, & medicine. At 5 o'clock this morning the
fever left her for the 18t time in 8 days. She is very
weak now but sleeps nearly the time - has slept nearly all
day. She has hed no fever today. Our Heavenly Father has
smiled on us all the time although he let the fever con=
tinue so long, but it might have been longer. His pres-
ence is an ever present help in time of need. I shall be
able to do the nursing myself tonight.

Tuesday Dee. 21 - 1897.

Mrs. G. had a good night last night, no fever - slept well
woke every two hours for food. Very hungry this morning.
On the mend beautifully. Thanks to Our Father for his
love and mercy. We have had our prayers answered, and

the medicine was given with prayers. Mrs. Graham was sick
all ni
</next_page_context>

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