# 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-021

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Dec. 12 ~ Saturday

Arising this a.m. I felt well - thanks to our heavenly
Father - and went out on deck to enjoy the bright sun-
shine and the balmy air of the south of Spain and the
North of Africa. The sea again is calm & presents a
most beautiful appearance. Our ship, though, still
rocks and although the Atlantic rollers seem very small,
yet they are powerful and toss us slightly from side to
side. Occasionally a large one comes up & dashes us
over to the right or left and then I hear a roar from
the Belgians an boars who are drinking and playing cards.
We have passed lattitude 32° and are now somewhere on a
line with La. Nothing of much interest - so I will hold
family prayers in my stateroom all by myself as Morrison
has already retired.

Dec. 13 - Sunday

I hardly know what to say in regard to this day ~ among
the Belgian passengers there is no difference on Sunday
any more than any other day. We had no public service
as we did on the Waesland coming over from America, for
in the Ist place there were none who could understand
English - and none of the missionaries could speak
enough French to attempt to interest the passengers. So
at 11 o'clock a.m. Bros. Armstrong, Wescott, Morrison,
myself and 2 black boys who were going back to their
home on the Congo, repaired to our stateroom & there we
had an informal prayer meeting which lasted about an
hour. All outside of our room were very noisy with
drink. The day passed on however with no incident
worth noting. We hope to reach Las Palmas tomorrow
afternoon. At 8 o'clock again, this evening us 4 mise
sionaries came together again in our stateroom and we
had prayermeeting. After which tea was served, and then
we retired. Good-night, with prayers for all.

Dec. 14 - Monday

I arose this awm. feeling quite well, after a good
night's rest and a sound sleep. I wrote some letters to
some friends, as we were expecting to anchor at Las
Palmas this evening at about six o'clock. Nothing of
interest much during the day, until about 4 o'clock we
noticed in the distance, very dimly, some land, and the
Captain said it was Grand Canary Island. Of course then
we began to be more eager than ever to get on land - for
we thought that as soon as we should anchor that we
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="raw_ocr_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
d being obedient to the advice of a French
M.D. on board I ordered a bottle of champagne & to my
great surprise and satisfaction, I did not vomit any
more today. I told Morrison what I had done and he took
a swallow of my champ. and he did not vomit any more and
slept very well.

Dec. 11 - Friday

After a good night's rest I heard Morrison up very
early and he was afraid he could not hold what little
he already had on his stomach so he ordered a bot. of
champagne and he and I both took a dose + and we went
to breakfast and I am glad to say we are now much better.
But yesterday when I ordered my champagne, a stuart who
was very sick and needed simpathy came by my door and I
called him in and offered him a dose & he said ina
most longing tones "Is it good for a sick man?" 1 told
him I tho't so and he took what I poured out for him
and about an hour after I saw him hard at work and he
came by where I was sitting on deck, and in his broken
Eng. said "I'm allright now thank you." The sea is now
quite calm, but somehow our ship rolls from one side to
the other continually ~ the day has been very bright
and beautiful and this p.m. we passed several ship
which seemed bound for Lisbon. Now I retire leaving
all the passengers, except Brothers Armstrong, Morrison,
& myself, in the dining saloon drinking their wine &
beer and enjoying their smoke and chat & singing &
playing on the piano and flute - and such singing and
encoring you never heard - and oh, My, what chattering.
Good night.
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
could land. But we were mistaken for when we anchored
in the harbor, a very pretty harbor, we had to wait
about an hour until the Doctor came on board and examined
the papers. Then it was dark and quite late although
the moon was shining most beautifully. However quite a
number got into the numerous skiffs that came to the
ship for the purpose of rowing the passengers to shore.
The cost being one Frank. You may think it strange that
we had to pay, but we did not go up to the docks as
ships do in N. Y. or Philadelphia but anchored about +/4
of a mile from the docks. Our object for stopping at
Las Palmas was to replenish our stock of coal, which had
become nearly exhausted. After the crowd went off I
took the life of Sam'1] Lapsly, for there was no noise
and read of his interesting travels in getting ready to
plant our Mission in Africa. I read until 11 o'clock
when I retired.

Dec. 15 - Tuesday

Arose at 5 o'clock a.m., much refreshed. Woke up Morri-
son and one or two others who were to go ashore with me.
After waiting awhile for daylight we had some bread &
butter & tea. After which we got into a skiff about 12
or 14 of us and were rowed ashore. As I said above the
cost of the trip was one Frank, about 20 cents of our
money. As soon as we landed we were accosted by 1/2
doz. or more car drivers. Boys who had 2-wheel carts &
a pony hitched to it. The park was about 2 miles or
more from the town, but there was what they call a steam
train which runs to it. The cost of riding on
</next_page_context>

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