# 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-195

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Kinshasa

Thurdsday Sept 8 - 1898

I sent NKaku fishing today & he cavght a nice 10 1b. fish-
a beauty - the Pioneer came over just before dinner, and
they ate with Mrs. Gordon we are to have them for supper.
Yes, we had lovely baked fish, stuffed, six of us had
enoughy&é to spare - we are to have then in the a.m. to
breakfast ~ Mr. McGregor, Mr. Colquihoun ~ both scoteh-
men. Mr. Morgan & myself went over across the Pool to
Brazzaville in the Pioneer - a fine excursion - we had a
cup of tea with Mr. Greshoff, and we looked. over his
grounds - Sophie perhaps will describe it to you some-
time. Mr. G. gave Sophie 20 eggs ~ you see our hens have
not been laying since we came here.

Friday Sept 9- 1898

They of the Pioneer stayed around nearly all day - it
made a trip to the Belgika place - I went. After coming
back it went again to Leopoldville. I forgot to mention
that last night the steamer ef the B.M.S. Good-will came
in & 4 more people - just think of two steamers at a
mission station lying up for several days and the people
of the station having to feed them all. The Pioneer went
over to the French side to spend the night. Nothing of
very much importance - Sophie has net been exceedingly
well for several days, but she is up & about. good-night

Saturday Sept 10 - 1896
This a.m. when I got up & looked around I found one bale
of cloth missing. I reported it around & put men on
watch for the thief but heard nothing of it today. I
bought a piece of cloth from Butch House & Sophie will
make me a suit. I also got a fine demijon You will think
it rather queer - but we use it for a cistern - a nice-
little walk & all feel better. But some more people came
in for B.M.S. today from Matadi Mr. &Mre. W. L. Forfeit
& Mr. Slonetaker all just out from England but they all
have been in Congo before - good-night

Sunday Sept 11 - 1898

This a.m. I went to service. Sophie did not feel well
enough to go. The work was rather hard moving &e - from
Tumba & settling down ~ & now it is just the change of
season when everybody has a bad spell if not very care-
ful. Mr. Gordon preached - after service we had communion
At night after supper we had a prayer meeting - good-night
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
 is s[illegible: 1 character]ing for peace - Good isn't it?

The usual work in the a.m. I went hunting with the boys
in the p.m. didn't get anything, but caught a young calf
that had lost its mother - the boys thought they had a
young buffalo. "Hunters luck" (?) The Pioneer, steamboat
of C.B.M., came in tonight Mr. McGregor capt, Mr. Calhoun
1st officer - Messrs Farris & Biddle came in.

Dr. Biddle sick, is sleping in one of the rooms of our
house Service this a.m. by Native, MonSude, big congre-
gation. S.S. in p.m. Monsendi superentendant - we had
a little shower the other night - very refreshing -
tonight we had the boys in and we had a bible reading &
singing & prayers all well - good-night - tomorrow is
Monday.

Today - after dinner Mr. McGregor & crew went down to
A.B.M.U. place - & I went with them. I saw commissaing
du district & he agreed to take for our Mission 50 loads
to Luebo - I thought I would get a ride back on the train
but it "never came" so I walked only 4 miles.

I got some fish-hooks & made ready to catch some fish
we heard that the Pioneer would be back again tomorrow &
that being so we shall probably have about 4 for dinner
or supper - we had washing done today - Girl does fairly
Nothing of importance going on today - the girl ironed and
the garments came out as nicely as though they had come
out of a steam laundry.

Nothing of importance going on today - the girl ironed and
the garments came out as nicely as though they had come
out of a steam laundry.
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Kinshasa

I almost forgot to mention that the boys caught the thief
today. He would not own it, but after being tied several
hours he concluded to tell where the cloth was, so we
found 18 pieces.

Menday Sept. 12 ~ 1898

Today the people all left on the Goodwill for up river.
No more cloth found, but nine piecs missing. I called
my head man in tonight and lectured him a little - and
offered a little matabish. Sophie is quite well. She
had no fever, only completely tired out. Thank God for
his good work. On Sunday nights we have the boys in for
bible reading & prayer - all other nights for prayer &
singing & once a week for writing - this is all extra
outside of service

Tuesday Sept 13 - 1898

This a.m. NKaku went out & on the strength of my lecture
found 7 piecs of the missing cloth. He came in highly
pleased I tried to catch a fish today but failed - I was
called in to see a sick boy today, but he was so far gone
I could do nothing. A Dutch man had a fever, tooe Sophie
& I are both sell. We are not decidedly settled yet as

to the house we shall have for an abode I sent letters off
Sat.

Wednesday Sept. 14 - 1898

Again this a.m. Nkaku went out and found the remaining 2
pieces of cloth - now it is all in. The sick boy is very
bad of f and will perhaps die tonight. The Dutch man is
now well Nothing of importance has taken place.

Thursday Sept. 15 ~ 1898

Again this is a day of peace & quiet - one boy caught a
nice large fish - while it lasted Mr. Gordon's folks &
mine lived
</next_page_context>

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