# 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-209

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
repeat scripture - we went out for a walk & met the Gov.
& Commandant & 2 other gents - bugs - flying ants are
thick around the lam. I shall say good night.

Stanley Fool Monday Nov. 7 - 1898

I wanted to go to Kinshasa today but did not feel like
walking over, so I did what I could about the place I
went to the R.R. Co. and telephoned about a car to bring
some loads from Kinshasa - the ans. was favorable. In
peme I went to see the commissaire I found the Gov.
General there and we had a friendly little visit. I asked
the comnissaire for a few loads. He said he could not on
that steamer, Ville de'Anvers, but at last I got him to
take 10 - so I went to see the captain & he said he would
take 18,

Tuesday Nov. 8 ~ 1896

Again wanted to go to Kinshasa but kept putting off ~ for
I thought a train would go - but none went so at # past

4 p.m. I walked over - found the capt. of Henrietta showed
him where my loads were to take and &c. I then borrowed
the Dutch House donkey & came home. JI had to go back
again the next day.

Wednesday Nov. 9 - 1898

This asm. I went to Kinshasa, and at noon Sophie sent
over some cake &c for the captain. You see a little cake
or some little delicacy goes a long way here I had the 1€
loads put on a car & then came back on a train ~ the loads
did not come over then - so I had to put two boys to
watch them. This asm. I sent the Gov. Gen. a cake & some

doughnuts & he was delighted. He acknowledged them very
nicely.

Thursday Nov. 10 - 1896

T he Gov. Gen. left this asm. on S.S. Princess Clemontine-
for Stanley Falls. The Henrietta also left this a.m. for
Luebo. My sick friend is much better.

Friday Nov. 11 ~ 1898

I sent to Kinshasa with food for my boys - went to the
R.R. to see about the car, but there was something the
matter with the line and I could not get it. I hired a
men today and he wanted a dash for coming to me to work.
I believe when I get home I shall have to ask for Matebis!
(dash or tip) for coming home. These people are worse
then the English porters for tips.
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
here - & I hope we
will have it in a few days -- good night Sophie & S.

I took two boys with me today & walked over to Kin - No
train will be over today. I dressed in native costume
for comfort, and I enjoyed the walk so much that I was
not tired at all. Upon arriving at Kinshasa I found the
small boat of the Dutch Co. going to Brazzaville, so I
went over & had a conversation with Mr. Greshoff. He had
written me a letter stating that I could not get any loads
on his steamer - but promised a goodly no. in the near
future. I prevailed on him however to take 50 loads up
to Luebo, & so on Monday I shall go to Kinshassa & place
them out so the capt. can get them when he is ready. I
had dinner with Mr. Cooper 16 men were at the table I
came back had a cup of tea at Mr. Gordon's donned the
native costume again & walked back home. The Governor
General came in today on a special train.

Mr. Wooling preached this a.m. A trader came to see me
to get something to eat for a sick man. I let him have
it - A Dutch-man came in jutst before church time & I
was kept from church - some newcomers, Italians for the
State came shooting around at little birds on the Mission
grounds & I politely pulled a little French on them &
asked them not to shoot on the ground, as we respected
the Sabbath - &c. They begged pardon & away they went.
Mr. Faris took dinner with us. I preached this p.m. at
4 o'clock while I had service in the church Sophie had
about 20 Congo boys in the house teaching them to sing &
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
“not feeling

timeis rather hard = she is

wen =

hie's menstruation period this

Nov. 13 ~ Sop
well ~ very

- severe pain in the back & abdo

Leopoldville Saturday Nov. 12 - 98

A boat came in today from River Quanga - §$.S. Ville de
Liege. I went down to it. I saw a man who had lots of
Parrots. I brought him up to the house with me & I bought
5 -I1 paid for them at the rate of $3°° per piece, but I
exchanged in cloth & the cost was not so much. I sent one
to Mrs. Gordon for a present. I had heard her say she
wanted one very much, & she head been so kind to Sophie I
have 4 now - I wish you had them at home. I hope to be
able to bring some when I comes My car came and the 1&
loads ~- these are for the Wescott Eros - I placed them on
the Beach to be ready for the boat when it goes out Tues-
day. I wrote some letters tonight to be ready for the
out going post one was to father wright Sophie wrote one
to Mrs. Oarter. We had a note from Mr. Gordon saying
thet Dr. Fleming w'd come over to see us tomorrow - so

we hope to te up early in the morning.

Sunday Nov. 13 - 1&9&

Before we got up this a.m. Dr. Fleming came she came over
in the hammock. we got up and breakfast was nearly ready-
we have a first class boy for cook. He is everything -
we opened a tin of salmon extra for company - the Dr.
went with me to church Sophie did not go - Mr. Wooling
preached - we had a good dinner chicken a native potato -
very fine and other things - nice tapioca cream - Sophie
had her S.S. class th
</next_page_context>

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