# 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-072

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Wednesday, Feb. 24 ~ 1897

After a good night's rest in my new quarters I awoke in
health for which I always praise the Giver of all Good
things - the Lord - I did not do very much today but went
down town to see Baron De Rosen, but he was ill & 1 put
it off. Phipps & I wnet to the storehouse & finished the
stoeke I chopped with my Dutch Friend, cheif of R.R.
Station did also. It rained hard and about nine o'clock
I came home. And after prayers in Phipp's house I re-
tired. I have another patient ~- the Bookkeeper of the
Duteh House. Good night.

Thursday Feb. 25 - 1897
Nothing much accomplished today, went to the warenouse
& helped Phipps arrange some Boxes, open some and pack

some for chop at Luebo. Am well ~ Thanks to our Heavenly
Father.

Friday Feb. 26 ~ 189%

After Breakfast I went with D'Angremond to see Baron
DeRosen about some trees that Phips cut. There was a
mistake & I wanted to correct it. D 'Angremond speaks
Freneh I do not. The commissaire speaks no Eng. Then

I helped Phipps in the warehouse again. In the pem. I
wrote a letter to the Baron & made the corrections and
sent the papers. In p.m. again I worked in warehouse.
D'Angremond was to have taken supper with me but an agent
of the Dutch House came down & he could not. However he
came just as we were finishing chop and got none. He is
to come and take supper with me Sunday and go with me to
service. Nothing more. Good night.

Saturday Feb. 27 ~ 97

Another days work in warehouse. At 11 o'clock asm. Paul
eame over and chopped with me. He has been down with
disentery for over 3 months. He ate more and felt better
he said than he had for a long time. I took supper with
Mr. D'Angremond, met Mr. Gooper, a dutch agt. As I was
about ready to retire Messrs Morgan & Penoek came in and
sat about an hour with me. Good-night Am well - health
greatly to be coveted here. May God Bless me and all mine

Sunday Feb. 28 - 97

Arose ~ well - at 10 o'clock went to Fiot service Mr. Hill
A.BMeU. condueted it very nice. In the p.m. Mr. Hill —
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
urn to have the
service for the Missionaries and few boys who understood
English. Our house not being in a condition to have ser-
vice the B.M.S. has been letting him have the use of
theirs, but unfortunately, Mrs. Pope was taken down with
fever and we had to go over to Mr. Hill's of the A.B.M.U.
I led the service and we had a very pleasant little
meeting. The wind came up quite briskly and we thought
there would be rain and likely a storm but none. Good
night au revoir.

Monday Feb. 22 - 1897
This a.m. I was up bright and early, with Phipps, working
on the house trying to get one room in readiness for me.
We got it ready thank. God. Nothing more.

Tuesday Feb. 23 - 1897
Arose this a.m. in good condition. Just as we were
eating breakfast, A young man with the uniform of the
state came to my door, and Mr. Pinock came with him. I
tho't he was one of the State men coming on business I
went and shook hands with him and he spoke my name in
plain Eng. I tho't this is certainly no Belgien. It was
a Mr. Humber working in the Employ of the State. American
by citizenship, a Jamakan by birth, has been here in
Africa for one year. After chop I put a boy to scouring
my room and making it ready for me. Phipps & I went to
the warehouse to straighten some goods around. After
chop at noon I began moving in and about 5 o'clock I had
things ready for sleeping. Mr. Humber came back and
chopped with me, and about ½ past 8 when he was about to
leave we had prayers. Now I say good night - & retire.
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
A.B.M.U. conducted service for the Acra's - good service.
I had my friend D'Angremond with me for supper. D'A,
Phipps & myself ate together & we had a good supper. D'A
left and went to sait on a sick Spaniard, and I went to
the evening service for the little group of missionaries
who are at Tumba. Bro Wooding of C.BM. conducted the
service. Had a good meeting & afterwards a program was
made out for the leaders of the different services for
the Mo. of March. I was put on to have communion service
at my house next Sunday night - 7th Inst. The Lord has
wonderfully blessed me in many ways during the week and
the Holy Sabbath day which has just finished. Now in
the name of Jesus our Lord I will say good night.

Monday Mar. 1st 1897

Got up early and began work on the house trying to get

a dining room fixed but a caravan of 11 men came in and

I gave them loads and sent them off for Stanley Pool.

I was not able to do much today outside of getting off
the caravan and attending to the mail and the other little
jobs of odds & ends. Tonight I expected the Wescott Bros.
up from Matadi but the train did not come in and Phipps

& I have been waiting until it is now 10 o'cloek.

Notrain so we will retire.

Tuesday Mar. 2 - 1897

This aem. at 3:30 o'clock I was aroused by the noise of
men's voices and on getting up I found the Weseotts. The
train had just arrived and they had bro't their baggage
up to my house. I had no bed for thea nor hardly a
shelter, but I had one room which I have be
</next_page_context>

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