# 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-004

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
but did not go through. At 1:45 p.m. I left 8... and
went to N.Y. Stopped at St. Stephens Hotel and made
inquiry about Morrison. I then went to Pennsylvania
depot at wharf ~ foot of Desbrasses St. — had my trunk
rechecked my trunk ~ & bo't ticket for Philadelphia -
arrived there at 6 p.m. and went to Davis House where
I spent the night on Market St.

Nov. 7 - Saturday

Hunted the office of Int. National Nav. Co. - found it
closed - too early + then walked about city a while
went to Pres. B'd pub. on 132' Chestnut St. and bo't
Hodge's Outlines of Theo logy. Could not find Dabney's,
looked in several 2"° hand stores. Then went back to
Int. Nav. Go's Office. bo't b'k't and hurried around
to Fenn. depot and had trunk and telescope carried to
wharf on Fier on Deleware river and had tkt stamped.

I found Morrison. on Board Ship “Waesland.” About 12 H.
we set sail and after quite a time starting we finally
pulled off. Quite interesting down the river - Nothing
of importance happened. 1/2 past 5 p.m. we had tea and
about 7 p.m. the pilot got off and went ashore then we
passed Cape Henlopen. Ship rocked considerably but had
a good nights rest.

Nov. & ~ Sunday

Arose feeling somewhat badly ~ head dizzy and stomach
very much agitated ~ cast my bread upon the waters.
€ 10:30 aom. Bro. Morrison preached - almost sick =
remainder of day passed off quietly. Evening had a
song service. Retired and slept quite well.

Nov. 9 ~ Monday

Arose feeling very badly waters rough - ship rocking
from side to side. Many on board ill. Nothing of
importance to mention. Retired but did not sleep well
as ship tossed very much.

Nov. 10 ~ Tuesday

Not well when I arose went on deck early & walked at

a rapid rate until I felt better. We amused ourselves
by watching a school of porpoises play along the ship «+
talked with a number of the passengers. Met a Miss
Lamb of Fhiladelphia and had a pleasant chat with her.
Also a Miss A.M.M. Bishop, Essex England & Miss Jennie
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
rica - scenery is so beau-
tiful. Arrived in N. Y. City 10 o'clock p.m. & had
quite a time finding Grand Central depot - Cabman de-
sired to take us there in order that we might not miss
the train for Croton Lake but there was no train going
out until 8:55 a.m. So we rode on St. car and remained
over night at the Grand Union Hotel opposite Grand
Central depot on 42nd St.

Left Grand Union Hotel & took St. car to 6th Ave.
elevator car which we took and rode to 155th St.
found another train going to Croton Lake later which
would arrive earlier - then count down to 135th St.
and got breakfast then went to 155th St. depot and
got on train for Croton Lake at 8:55 a.m. pouring
down rain and still so when we arrived at Cr. Lake @
10:12 a.m. remaining in depot for it to slack a little
but no sign - gust after gust of wind & rain beats
against the little station house as we wait patiently.
My brother does not come neither does it stop raining.
Croton Lake is 33 miles north of N. Y. City on N.Y.C.
& H.R.R. Pulman division. Nellie and I went to a farm
house Mr. Hyde & stayed until after dinner then the
boy took us to brother's. Paid him 50 cts. Met sister
Mary and sister-in-law Maggie - and little girl baby-
Mary - five months old, very bright little girl - and
very pretty.

Left Brother's at Croton Lake about 10a.m. and Sister
Mary and Cousin Nellie went with me over to Sing Sing
on the Hudson - in buggy. We walked around the village
in various directions and saw the great State Prison
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Holland, 36 Devonshire Road, Blackpool, England. At
night on retiring took a dose of sidlets powders and
a dose of Pills ~. did not sleep well...

Nov. 11 = Wednesday

Hurriedly arose with pains in my stomach, the results
of medicine the previous night. Soon relieved and went
up on deck & felt better. The day was spent pleasantly
in conversation and reading. Retired early but ship
tossed so did not sleep well.

Nov. 12 - Thursday

Feeling good when I arose. ate heartily - enjoyed the
day very much - saw 3 whalers pass our ship = at a
distance of about 100 yards away. Monsters they were.

In the evening about 8 of us got into a game of "tippet."
Ship still rocks and restless night ensues.

Nov. 13 - Friday

Sun rose very brightly but only to stay out for a

short time then was hidden by the clouds. Somewhat of
a gloomy day but passed off on board very pleasantly.
Only one thing that was grating all the time & that was
gambling in the smoking room. Gapt. took post. At
night played tippet again and later played a game of
checkers with Mrs. Meir. I beat her. retired but as
usual the sea was rough and ship tossed.

Nov. 14 ~ Saturday

Morning dark & gloomy, slightly foggy - damp with a
disagreeable cold wind. Nothing of importance took
place. passing up and down the deck was the only
amusement - which broke the monotony and good exercise.
Read memoirs of Sam Lapsley our young missionary very
interesting - read also "Sir Uchtest" which I got from

Dr. M°Donald, our physician, very
</next_page_context>

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