# 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-134

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
engaged getting ready for the reception of a friend to

he came and dined with us at 6:30 o'clock this eve. We
had a lovely dinner - chicken soup, salmon orquettes, col
ham on top of green curly lettuce,together with the
leveliest rolls, then mest delicious fried chicken and
scolloped potatoes, and the last course was pears in
syrup, doughnuts, sugared & plain and coffee. A most en-
joyable meal. Mr. Ohlenschlager was the name of our
guest and he is to leave Tumba on Thursday to take charge
of another factory. He is the agent of the Tumba Factory
now, for the Dutch Trading Co. He has been a great frien
to me and I am sorry he is going away.

Tuesday Jan. 25, 1898
This morning shile we were eating breakfast, we were sur-
prised by receiving from our friend Mr. Ohlenschlager a
most beautiful Russian brass coffee pote It is an ele~
gent thing, and a most beautiful ornament for any side
board. It is a wedding present but a little late, but it
is better late than never you know. I had some more car-
riers this a.m. and loaded them and helped Mr. Wooding
unload a car load of goods. In the afternoon, Mr.
Ohlenschlager & Mr. Graham came over and had a eup of tea
with use We had doughnuts and it would have done you goo
to see how they enjoyed them. Europeans do not have
doughnuts. Mr. Grahan & myself took the photograph of
Mr. Ohlensehlager. I as an amateur, I think I made a
failure. I have not developed it yet. Mrs. C. and I are
reading a book together "Titus" now good night and good
rest. Stephen & Sophie.

Jan. 26 - 1898
Dear Mr. Underwood , Halton & Cooksou, Boma
On Aug. 30 h ‘97, I sent out the first lot of goods sent
me for Messrs. Wescott Bros. (18) Eighteen cases, but (19
nineteen loads. These have been rec'd by Dr. Sims and
shipped to Destination.

On 6th Inst I dispatched the and shipment to Leopild-
ville and they have already been rec'd by Dr. Sims and
will be sent up on the Feb. boat This lot consists of
(13) thirteen cases & (4) four bags = (17) seventeen
packages (17) seventeen loads.

Enclosed you will find bill for & 36 = Thirty-six
pounds. Please give A.F.0.M. a/c credit for same. Some
of these cases weighed too much & were awkward & clumsy
& had to be called 2 loads & 1% &e.

With best wishes I am yours truly

J.8. Crowley
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
ew days to have
them all off. I went to see my sick friend this p.m. and
found him quite well.

Sunday Jan. 23 - 1898
All well, in good spirits Sophie writing. I called to se
the sick man find him quite well. We go to the 10 a.m.
service Mr. Graham presented a sermon in Congo. At 4
o'clock p.m. I preached a sermon in English. After ser-
vice Mr. & Mrs. Graham, Mr. & Mrs. Sollner & Mrs. Crowley
and myself took a nice walk - it was a very pleasant and
cool afternoon and the air so refreshing. We came home
and had supper, and prepared for the evening service at
our house - three married couples attend - Mr. & Mrs.
Wooding, Mr. & Mrs. Graham, Mr. & Mrs. Crowley. Messrs.
Morgan & Pinnock still being absent. Mr. Wooding led
the service, the day was spent very pleasantly and profit-
ably. Thanks to our kind Father for His care and pro-
tection to us all. Good-night. S. & S.

Monday Jan. 24 - 1898
Bright and early this morning, I began loading carriers
with loads for our friends at Luebo. I had 8 caravans
in and in the 8 caravans, the no. of men were 75. Each
man took a load. Each load had to be weighed. Each box
had a no. on it and the name of the person to whom it
belonged. The name of capeta, the name of each man who
took a load, the name of the owner, the no. of box or
bale, the no. of declaration permit and the weight of
each package all had to be noted carefully on a mani-
festo. I worked very hard all day. However everything
went off o.k. At the same time Mrs. Crowley was busy
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Wednesday Jan. 26 ~ 1898

In the a.m. I made my round to call on my friends who
were ill and found them all well. Mr. O. will not go

to MKissi tomorrow. In the afternoon it rained a very
hard rain and we were gled to see it for it helps us out
with the water very much. You see if it don't rain we
must have our water brought from the small stream which
is about 1 mile away. I finished making a table today.
Mr. Morgan after a vacation of about.2 weeks came in.
Mr. Graham had the Congo service Sophie & I are reading

a book together, call Titus or the two comrades to the
Crosse

Thursday Janse 27 ~ 1898

A lovely day & Mrs. Crowley was feeling so exceedingly
well & happy that she thought it a good day to entertain
so accordingly Mr. & Mrs. Graham, our very dear friends
were invited to dine with us at 6:30 this eve. They
came and we had a lovely time. Our dinner consisted of
soup, heart fresh from the ox, with nice dressing, de-
lightful rolls, curried & uncurried prawns, ham, dough-
nuts & Bartletts Pears - & tea. After dinner Mr. Graham
& I went out to the chapel & entertained 3 coast men in
a scripture reading and prayers ~ songs & & a little
wholesome gospel advice. After the service we came back
into the house & had some singing of our own.

Friday Jan. 28 - 1898

A lovely day. I made some calls & about 11:30 o'clock,
Mrs. Graham & Mrs. Crowley went down to the native market
& tried to talk some to the native women, but they do not
want to know anything of God's palava. A m
</next_page_context>

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