# 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-123

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
lamb. It will be some time however before either will do
for chope A funny little incident occured ~ as I was
bringing it home I met Mr. Morgan and he claimed the
sheep. The boy who was leading it was instructed to tell
Mr. Selva, the donor, that it was the wrong sheep. After
awhile Mr. Silva came to see Mr. Morgan about it and foun¢
it was a mistake of the boy bringing up the wrong sheep
and sent him for another. So now Mrs. C. has a nice sheey
and lamb. Then I went with Mr. S$, to kill a beef = after
which we had a few target shots, then went to look at the
Accra's and Sierra Leon's play a game of cricket. We had
a nice little rain today which makes the atmosphere cooler
and more pleasant. Now I will say good night and say
that our New Year so far is splendid. I forgot to say
that our New chapel was dedicated today.

Sunday Jan. 2nd 1898

Today our service for the Congo boys, in the new chapel,
was @ great success. Mr. Graham preached and there were
present about 150. Mr. G. was much inspired and we had a
grand time. A collection was taken and about 30 francs
were contributed. We always have a collection on the 18%
Sunday in each month. In the afternoon we had the service
for those who speak English and another collection was
taken and about 35 francs or $7°° were contributed - the
congregation was not so large as usual. Mr. Pinnock
preached. At night we had communion service at my house
and all were present except Mrs. Graham & Mrs. Wooding
who were not feeling well enough to be out. Our little
dining-room with a nice square carpet which covers the
whole floor except 1 foot on each side and end ~ a splen«
did chenille table cover which matches nicely ~ then the
drapery - and fine lace curtains — two nice tables with
beautiful covers the tables I made myself & the covers
Mrs. Crowley made. we had a lovely meeting and very
impressive. Mr. Graham was the preacher for it was his
turn. I had a small organ on this occasion - one that
some friend made a present to Mrs. Wooding ~ and Mr.
Pinnock played. All the missions have an organ except
the A.P.C.M. The music, I think, adds so much to the
service. Good night.

Monday Jan. 3°49 1898
A bright good morning and all well. Mrs. Crowley is happy
now she has started house keeping and got our meals today.

She enjoys it so much. We had cat meal, toast bread
coffee &c for breakfast; for dinner we had cabbage &
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
 looks beautifully.
I had the prayer meeting service tonight in the new chapel
this p.m. we all played a game of cricket - good exercise
on a cool day - both well - good night.

Mrs. C. & I are both well & happy. This morning after
some little preliminaries I began to make a center table
and suceded remarkably well. The chief manager of the
machine shops of the Ry. made 2 elboes to fit my stove
pipe and I fixed up the stove and now we are ready for
cooking. We had a good day and tonight we are to have a
watch service. Mr. Morgan is to be the preacher. I had
a letter from Mr. Sheppard today and also a card from
Verner. They report all well at Luebo.

Last night we had a good meeting and opened up the new
year in a good way. Before we got up this a.m. we were
greeted with cards wishing us a happy New Year. Mr. Wood-
ing sent us some photographs. After breakfast Mrs. C.
stole a march on Mrs. Graham and stuffed and baked two
nice pigeons - and also made a dish of scolloped potatoes
and we had a grand New Years dinner while our friends in
America had their fine turkeys - we had some nice pigeons
and enjoyed them very much. After dinner I gave the boys
their fish candles & soap and as it is the 1st Saturday
in the month I gave them their Sunday cloth. You see it
is the custom to give the boys that work on the station a
small piece of cloth once each month as an incentive to
keep clean. I then went to pay a little visit to some
friends and one of them gave me a nice sheep and little
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
bacon - corned beef, doughnuts and nice biscuits. For
supper - well we had a good one. The day passed off in
the regular or ordinary way except that the Rail Road Co.
brought me from Matadi 300 packages for transport work &
for our missionaries at Luebo. Tonight we had the Euro-
pean & American mails and Mrs. Crowley, had a no. of let-
} ters addressed to Miss Wright = from her mother, sister
and others. The first time she has had any mail since she
came to Africa and I never saw anyone so proud and over~
joyed. It is wonderful the effect the first batch of

letters has on a fellow, or I should say a person who is
so far from home. Good night.

Tuesday Jan. 4 = 1896

Good morning! We are well, how are you? Ah, we are glad
you are looking so pleasantly. Yes we have had a good day
Sophie made some apple pies and bekem the nicest loaf of
bread. I gave some sick people some medicine and purchase
some matches & sardines for Dr. Sims, and did the other
necessary things on a transport mission station. Mr. &
Mrs. Graham were over to see us this afternoon - and as
we were eating supper Mr. Pinnock came in and he had a
cup of tea with us. Today I resumed my work again teach-
ing the boys. Next Monday Mrs. Graham will reopen the
school and Mrs. Crowley will be her assistant. She gave
a vacation of two weeks. At the close of the term she
held an examination and two of my boys were awarded
prizese That is all for today. I forgot to tell you the
kind of a tins Sophie used for baking bread
</next_page_context>

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