# 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-077

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Monday Mar. 15/97

Got up early in the a.m. & went to the store & made up
14 leads. I had quite a time of it. However by hard
work I did it & just about 6 o'eloek p.m. we had another
hard rain I had to move things about the room promis-—
couously in order to keep them dry.

Tuesday Mar. 16 - 1897

I went again to the store and finished the loads & a
caravan of A.B.M.U. came in with 20 men I furnished their
14 loads & Mr. Hill gave them 5. One eapeta of the A.P.C.M
came in with a goodly number of carriers but has been
doing very poor work. He wanted another book a licence
for this year, but I had no loads at present & so refused
to license him. Tonight just as I was about ready to
retire there came another of those tremendous winds &
rain and after about $ an hours hard rain & wind I heard
a pounding on my door and when I opened it there were

the boys the reof had blown off their house and they
came to me for protection. I let them in and they slept
in my dining room. I had quite a time trying to keep

out of the rain for it came in wherever the air could
passe

Wednesday Mar. 17 - 97

A mild rain after the storm continued all night. About

7 o'clock this a.m. it ceased and I immediately set the
boys to work repairing their house. They did not want

to do it but when I told them they could not get chop
until they did it they began work & about 3 o'clock
another rain came up, and broke into their work. I began
working on my house to keep out the rain & now I have it
ook.

Thursday Mar. 18 - 97

This asm. 2 capetas whom Verner licenced on the 2d of
July last, came & wanted a new licence. Tf was a new man
& they tho't they could work me as they pleased, but I
took the paper which Verner had given them and tore it
up. You see he licenced them and they had not carried
any loads at all. They said that they had come to do so
but there were none for them so of course could not carry
them. I had no loads for them so of course I did not
licence them. I gave them a small dash for their trouble
-in order to keep them in a good humor and sent them to
the Duteh house where they got loads.
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
 caravans I
got off two.

Sent off some more loads to the Pool. Took supper with
Mr. Hill & wife. Had a pleasant visit.

Wrote some letters, one to Mr. Harvey accepting a propo--
sition to sell me some goods.

I worked about at various things - No caravans - No goods.
All gone except what I make up. It is a hard job too
repacking goods. One week ended not much for Christ I'm
afraid

Did necessary things about the place caught a chicken
for chop & gave the boys their chop. Read my Bible
@ 10 o'clock went to Fiot service Mr. Pinock lead. After
which a collection was taken and the boys gave in NTaku
Knives, fish, frances, and various other things. I then
went down to Bro Hills and called on Mr. Bane & wife &
Mr. Adams who had just come from Likunga. Mr. B has
been sick for over 50 days with slow fever. I then went
home & had chop. At 4 o'clock I held the Akra service
and we had out a good crowd. At night again @ 7:30 I
held a meeting @ the B.M.S. house where we had a communion
service. My first to preside over. We had a large crowd
taking in the natives. About 50 of us in all. Song 645 -
Prayer - Crowley - song 165 - reading scriptures, Crowley--
Song 714 - Fiote prayer for blessing just before breaking
bread. Mr. Bently, Messrs. Wooding & Morgan passed the
plates. Prayer before taking wine Mr. Hill Messrs W. & M
passed the cups. Mr. Adams offered prayer of thanks--
giving song 114 - song 630 - short prayer & benediction
Crowley we visited a little and repaired to our own
houses
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Friday Mar 19 - 97

My carriers came baek this a.m. saying they were very
hungry - they had leads - but had no rations. I wrote

a note to the agt. of D. H. which explained it all and
made it e.k., I guess for I heard nor saw no more of them.
I sold the agt. one drum of paint, as we have too many
drums & too much - this p.m. I had one of the boys to
help me & we put some boards on one end of the house it
is not all closed in yet. I hope to have it soon. Mr.
& Mrs. Wooding ceme over and spent a while with me &
Mrs. W. tho't I would be fixed up nicely after a while.
Now I must say good night as I am exceedingly well. +
have much to thank God for. He has been kinder to me-
than He has with some others. I never fail to thank him
for what he has done for me and many other poor sinners.
I hope His favor may always be with me and keep watchful
care over me. Amen.

Saturday Mar. 20 - 1897

Began the day as usual 15* in prayer & adoration to Our
Kind Heavenly parent - then looking after the fowls goats
&e then seeing that the boys had work. Had the grounds
swept off nicely, and all preparations made ready for
Sunday. I went to see Mr. & Mrs. Hill in the peme &
while there a caravan of about 2000 carriers came in
followed up by one of the state officers. The chiefs of
some of the villages had been tied up for months some of
them. The state treats them cruelly, but I think prob-
ably it is the Hand of God ruling in a misterious WAY»
for they are much more submissive now than they were
h
</next_page_context>

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