# 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-185

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Thursday July 21 - 1898

& quiet day - I went to the early train this a.m. to post
a letter. I've been writing nearly all day - & for the
“next 2 days I shall be very busy. It was my service
tonight, but fire broke out among the houses of some of
the Rail Road boys & caused a crowd to gather ~ I went to
the churck but no one came so after # an hour's wait went
home. By-the-way today I assisted Sophie in the school.
She is alone in it now - just thinkl only here a few
months and running e scheol alone I tell you it is fine.
I had the pleasure of hearing the reading class of the
highest grade - and to my surprise I find 2 of my boys

in it that only a few months ago I taught them their
letters - and do you know they read well. I am glad they
are getting on so nicely I suppose you have read the
June number of the Childrens Missionary. The ist piece
in it is fine dont you think? Yours $§ & 8

A FCM Tumba July 25 - 1898
Messrs. Whyte Ridsdale & Coe
London - Eng.
Dear Sirs,
Enclosed please find letters of advice for
, B/E #14 ~ 15 - 16 - Please honor.
Please send the following to my address at Kinschassa
1 slipper - or bed pan to use for lady in ilness
1 Invalides cup $ pint or so
1 small bolt, say between 20 & 5O yds, cretonne, figured
derk red ground
Dz bos 5 gr. capules empty F.D. & Co.
Dz box 3 gr. " a "
O yds mosquito netting fig. if can, if not plain 6 or &
ft. wide
Fountain syringe without case & tubes if cheaper
a Reels of cream white sewing silk thread

alent

eo ® “Button Hole silk thread
" u “white cotton thread no 50
i W it ti v a a 60
" a) Ll] * t 1) a 70

enly " " black silk thread

pair natural wool pants no. 34
Dz baloons to send up at night at Snas

lbs. good feathers

Please put in a number of nice little fancy things for
boys & girls for a Christmas gift - 2 or 3 little needle
cases & some other nice little things not expensive for

10 0H > Po wae = ol
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
 though I was doing business for a big firm. The
Lord is my boss and I am doing the best I can for His
cause and the Missions good. Mrs. Crowley sends love
with me. Yours in Christ    Crowley

Nothing much of importance happened during the day-
except that chemin de fer co. began tearing down the
buildings which were put up for the inauguration-
train brought us a letter from Flora and one from Mrs.
Wright-
a card from Mr. Inslu, a nice long letter from
the Ladies Aid Society of our church in Monroe La. and
three nice views of same 1 exterior & 2 interior views all
exceedingly nice & lovely-
and the nicest letter to us
both.  I also had a book of S.S. Lessons from Flora. But
last of all I had very sad news - a letter from my dear
little sister, stating that Mother had gone to sleep in
Jesus on the 30th of May. It was very hard sad news, but
the Lord giveth & the Lord taketh away and all that we can
do cannot bring back the Loved one-
reconciled at once - and oh, at this time above all times
it is so good to have Sophie my own dear love with me.
She is such a comfort. Good night with Gods blessings-

Today Mr. & Mrs. Wooding & Mr. Frame left for San Salvador
to be gone about 3 weeks. We hope to be in Kinschassa
before they get back but we may not - good night - Mr.
Pinnock also went off on a little hunt - and will be back
Friday.

Today all the flags have been hoisted - as a state man of
some notoriety came in. Mr. Morgan had the Congo service
tonight. we got no mails tonight.
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
men who are associated with us on station -~ some fancy
calandars with Xmas greeting &c also some prayer calan-
dars - Limit £1°° Please send out as soon as yeu can for
delay is great. Mrs. Crowley sends regards. Thanks

J. S. Crowley
Friday July 22 - 1898 :
Today is the same as usual - except that I assisted in
school again. Nothing important happened, but a white
man a trader - Belgian - got sick had a cold - got his
throat stopped up a little and thought he was going to
die - sent for me & I put him straight in short order.
He said “Master Crowley, c'st finis, b by I go die -
Oh Mastre Crowley - I go die" - I laughed at him and
asked him what hour it would take place & - He did not
like it but I did not care. It was real funny. He told
some afterward thet I came in just in time to save his
life.

Saturday July 23 - 1898

This peme Mr. Finnock, Mr. Morgan & I went out to try and
get an atelope ~- we got hungry - but after a tramp of
about 2 hours we came back without our game ~ we saw two
however but we had the "hunters luck."

Sunday July 24 - 1898

Mr. Pinnock preached this a.m. to the Congo boys, & Mr.
Morgan this pem. to the Accra & Sierra Leon's, & I at
night to the missionaries. a good day.

Monday July 25 - 1898

Am expecting a letter from Mr. Gordon about the house we
shall live in for a time when we go to Kinshassa, but it
did not come.

Tuesday July 26 - 1898

I went to the train early this a.m. to post some letters
for Matadi and the Fool. Nothing of interest has
</next_page_context>

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