# 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-198

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Kinshasa

the French side & ate dinner or board. After which we
ran until 2 p.m. we stopped again & had tea. Mr. Gordon
& his beys went out in a canoe to catch some fish. I
went up on the side hill to kill a monkey but neither of
us had any luck. I came back to the boat and fished a
little with a line, but caught nothing. A storm was
brewing & the wind blew but the rain did not come - the
Pool was like a little sea and we enjoyed our trip back -
it seemed like a sea voyage. I came very near being sea-
sick. In the Pool are several small islands ~ one large
one about 5 miles wide & 6 miles long. The large island
belongs to the French & they keep their convicts there

on one of the smaller those who are infested with small-
pox & leprosy are kept. We had a love time & feel the
better for our outing. Mr. Morgan had supper with us &
will eat breakfast with us in the morning. Today we ex-
pect our new stove & a party of O.B.M. folks - & Dr.
Flemings lover.

Thursday - Sept. 22 - 1898

Today we had great expectations - we having been looking
and preparing for the new comers. We invited Mr. & Mrs.
Gordon & Dr. Fleming to supper with us. we expected the
Pioneer would go away - It did not however, & Messrs.
McGregor, Colquehoun & Morgan came in on the scene. How-
ever, we opened a tin of good old Irish stew, made in
Dutch-Land, and we had plenty for all. A most enjoyable
time. Mr. James the lover & intended bride groom did not
step, but went over to Leopoldville. Dr. Fleming his
fiance was a little disappointed, but pretended as though
she was not and made excuses ~ good-night - By the way,

I had a letter from Mr. Harvey & he sanctions my offer

to rent the place at Leopoldville. I now must see Mr.
Greshoff and cet out of the little engagement I entered
into with him.

Friday Sept. 23 - 1898

This a.m. the Fioneer went to Leopoldville & I went along
T wanted to have a look over the place - Nice brick house
& plenty of bananas mangos &c lets of nice palms & orange
trees. Tomorrow I hepe to see Mr. Greshoff. Mr. James
came over & he & his lady love made all O.K. Tonight we
had for supper Mr. & Mrs. Ruskin & Mr. Morgan I will have
to take down our stove tomorrow a.m. & let it go off with
Mr. Morgan - when we all broke up for the night we went
over & serenaded Mr. Dames & Loctress Fleming - & con-
gratulated then & bade them good w.
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
t of men from Mr.
McGregor of the steamboat pioneer, to help me unload a
car of goods for me & for Luebo frds.

Saturday Sept. 17 - 1898
I began early unloading this a.m. & was through by 9
o'clock & had the goods checked. I then put the men to
carrying & almost by the time I had finished breadfast
they had the goods there. In the afternoon I had them
stacked up. This p.m. Mr. Gordon & his boys went out
hunting, but they saw nothing. He came home. Afterwards
the boys saw a deer and killed it they shot it nearly all
to pieces - which made the meat somewhat ugly - we had
a pice of it this a.m. though we had some fresh beef --
2 lbs. 90 cts.

Sunday Sept. 18 - 1898
A good service this a.m. S.S. in p.m. A walk after I
met the "chef de gare" - chief of the Railroad station
he will leave for Europ tomorrow - all well - no news
good night

Monday Sept. 19 - 1898
I wrote letters today for Luebo & others - went down to
see the captain of steamboat Henrietta which will go up
the Kassai next month. Pioneer mission steamer I have
spoken of so much. Mr. McGregor & Mr. Colquehoun had
supper with us tonight they will eat with us in the a.m.

Tuesday Sept. 20 - 1898
The gentlemen mentioned ate breakfast with us - took the
other meals with Mr. & Mrs. Gordon - An excursion planned
for us all tomorrow.

Wednesday Sept. 21 - 1898
About 9 o'clock this a.m. we all got on board the steam--
boat Pioneer & went 4 hours up the big river or to the
head of the Pool. At 12 n we anchored near the shore of
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Kinshasa

Saturday Sept. 24 - 1898

This aem. Early I got up took down the stove had it put
on board the boat. I left Sophie in bed & went to the
other side of the Pool Brazzaville to see Mr. Greshoff
his boat was not coming back to this side but after I
had had a little chat with him he heartily entered into
my plans & consented to all I said. I stayed with him
until after dinner then he loaded me up with vegetables
viz. leek, cabbage, lettuce, egg-plants, celery &e - &
then had his beat bring me home. So in a few days we
will move to Leopoldville & be settled permanently.

Sunday Sept. 25 - 1898

Service this a.m. by Mr. Gordon. I am out of it here but
when we get to Leopoldville, I will have to be in it. It
was collection day and lots of brass rods were thrown in -
after dinner had a rest ~ In the p.m. had a nice promonade
lovely day all well - good night - had the boys in with

us for a bible reading & several other boys came in too

Monday Sept. 26 - 1898

This aem. Sophie made some doughnuts & cake & sent some
to Mr. Gershoff & to the capt. of the boat Henrietta &
to Mr. d'Angremond. I went down to the boat & saw the
capt & others. The steamer Ville de Liege came along &
stopped at Dutch House beach took on some salt, but was
interrupted 2 times on a/e of not having declared the
goods. He was a Belgian & thought he could do as he
pleased - Had our promenade &c boys in to prayers —-
good night all well -

Tuesday Sept. 27 - 1898

This a.m. we sent for fresh beef - got wi
</next_page_context>

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