# 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-207

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Leopoldville

convenience. If I only had good 294 hand one I shoud
prefer with large cushion tires or cork not pnevmatic -
well we went over I ate dinner at the Butch House with
sone friends & Mr. Faris ate with Mr. Gordon ~ we walked
back again getting home about 6 e'clock - I have to go
over there to see about loads going up to Luebo - good
night all well - come over & see us now - we begin to
feel like home once more - we are looking for a new stove
every day. Tonight the Antwerp mails came in - but I
guess there will be none for us.

Sunday Oct. 29 - 1698

Service this a.m. Mr. Wooling preacher. Mr. Morrey just
rec'd a new organ & he had it at church & played - a good
congregation ~ 27 native boys quite a hard rain today.
Rainy season has set in. Friday we had ovr first hard
one. It is a lovely place here & we hope to do some

good work as far as we can. May God bless us & keep us
in health & strength & fill us with His Holy Spirit. Our
boys are in for prayers. Good night. Stephen & Sophie

Monday Oct. 30 ~ 1898

I began to have some ground broken up today so I could
plant some vegatables. After dinner I planted some
potatoes. I hope they will do well. Sohpie is making
some little shirts & dresses to send to some little
children at Luebo.

Tuesday Nov. 1st 1898

Sent for Quango to the state for the boys today & could
not get any for it is a feast day. The jst day of Nov.
Holiday - so have to wait until tomorrow - planted some
more potatoes. Had another nice rain today. Good night.

Wednesday Nov. 294 1698

Sent for Quanga (chop) early this a.m. got it O.K. boys
happy - I entended going to Kinshasa but got left - on
the train and did not want to walk over. O for a “bike®-
I could make up for lost time. I planted some more
potatoes - you see I plant a little by degrees.

Thursday Nov. 3 ~ 1896

Two steamers will leave today - in fact have just gone -
they are bound for Stanley Falls. I entended going over
to Kinshasa on one but was too late. "5.8. Stanley &
Clemontine" I did some masonry & carpenter work in the
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
 read
the testament with me - his name is L. Van Laer. He did
come & we read and translated both from French to English
& vise versa. It begins to look like home now.

Wednesday Oct. 26 - 1898
This a.m. I went to Kinshassa, ate dinner with Mr. & Mrs.
Gordon. I went over on the engine about 4 oclock I
started back but the train caught up with me & the master
stopped for me & I got on & came home in a hurry. I
wrote a letter to Mr. Greshoff & Mr. Cooper. Mr. C
brought some letters & a parcel & a case of milk from
Tumba for me. Messrs. Farris & Woolings came in & spent
the evening.

Thursday Oct. 26 - 1898
Mr. Gordon got short of Quanga & I sent him over 13 - I
was glad to do something for him. Today I bought a
canoe - very large one & now can go riding on the river
whenever I like. Sophie & I hung up some lace curtains
today - our dining & sitting room looks very pretty now.
Good-night.

Friday Oct. 27 - 1898
Moved my fowls down to Mr. Woolings place to-day until I
can build a run for them. I have a house for them but it
is so dark & high from the ground that they do not like
to go into it - did various things today.

Saturday Oct. 28 - 1898
I went to the station this a.m. to try & get a train to go
to Kinshasa but there was none - I bought about a peck of
Irish potatoes & gave 17 francs ($3⁴⁰) for them & that
was the cost price - I shall plant all I can of them. I
came home & got Mr. Faris to go with me & we walked (only
4 miles) I wish I had a bycicle it would be such a great
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
way of fixing a door that will be the entrance to our
kitchen you see I'm jack of all trades.

Friday Nov. 4 - 1898

This aom. was all ready to go to King. but it came up a
big rain so I postponed it. I bought some chickens the
other day at 40 cents each & up to today I have found 6
dead ones - rather expensive. But it is too bad for they
are so scarce. We have managed to have a nice lot of
eggs all the time since coming here - so far we have been
fortunate, but we have no stove we cood on a small heating
stove which we keep out in the yard for convenience - &

a small oil stove which we have in the house. We bake

on Mr. Wooling's stove - but we are living in hopes.

Ours is on the way from Matade somewhere - & I hope we
will have it in a few days -- good night Sophie & S.

Saturday Nove 5 - 1898

I took two boys with me today & walked over to Kin - No
train will be over today. I dressed in native costume
for comfort, and I enjoyed the walk so much that I was
not tired at all. Upon arriving at Kinshasa I found the
small boat of the Dutch Go. going to Brazzaville, so I
went over & had a conversation with Mr. Greshoff. He had
written me a letter stating that I could not get any loads
on his steamer - but promised a goodly no. in the near
future. I prevailed on him however to take 50 loads up
to Luebo, & so on Monday I skall go to Kinshassa & place
them out so the capt. can get then when he is ready. I
had dinner with Mr. Gooper 16 men were at the table I
came back had a cup of
</next_page_context>

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