# 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-146

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
perfectly henest. Of ceurse they have many faults, ene
ef them being a great unwillingness to work.
6

But many ef us at home have that seme fault and have net
the redeeming virtue~-generosity--which is possessed by
these Cenge children, in a marked degree. It was a great
surprise te me to find them so, and if I had space I ceul
tell yeu many little stories ef their generesity and un-
selfishness te ene another, seme ef which have been teld
te me and some which have come under my own observation.
Mrs. Graham, whom I have mentioned several times, has
two dear little boys under her care--one three and the
ether five years of age - they are inseparable, and the
greatest punishment given te either of them is te ferbid
him sharing any delicacy he has with the other. One of
them, the younger, causes her some little trouble, and
when he is this bad, he is punished by net getting any
bread in the morning and the elder one is forbidden to
share his with him. Se when the little fellew has been
goed the other comes with a bright smile te tell her of
it so that he may be allowed to share with his companion.
Another case which happened at my own home, deeply
impressed me. One day at tea, I dropped a lump of suger
en the fleor and I told Mapuata he might have it. At
once he hurried to divide it with the ether boys. Think
ef it children, how meny of yeu would divide a lump ef
sugar even ameng your brether and sisters. But ne matter
hew large or small the quantity it is shared always.
Another good trait they have is a willingness to help ene

anether without grumbling. They carry hate. They
seem pleased ind and are net sulky when repreved
of faults.

I sheuld like te write mere, but I'm afraid Mr.

will threw most of this inte the waste basket. Now, I
want te ask all the dear little children and others whe
read these lines, to pray for the health of the missien-
aries here in Africa, that they may be instrumental in
spreading the Gespel to the whole of the African people,
and that many ef the milliens whe are now in heathen dark-
ness may be brought into the Lord's Kingdom.

Sephie C. Crowley.
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
ite. They would not believe that he was not until he
called his boy to testify to the fact that he was only a
missionary who had come to Congo to tell them of Jesus.
He was the first white man they had ever seen who could
speak the congo language properly. The rest of the day
was the same as others with its usual amount of work.

Tuesday Feb. 15 - 1898
The earliest train that went out this a.m. ran off the
track and caused a blockade several hours from Tumba. The
Express left at the usual hour, but before noon it came
back again as it could not pass the one which had run off.
I had 20 carriers to come in for their pay - they had
made a very quick trip to Leopoldville, Stanly Pool, only
15 days. They had gone so quickly that they were tired
and wanted to rest from their labors for a while. After
school we all went over to the State Quarters to see a
lovely Leopard, six months old and as gentle as a kitten
it was a beauty. It was tied with a chain, not in a cage,
and I went up and stroked it for several minutes it would
play with you just like a little kitten. Nothing else of
importance. I ended the old agreement with the S.M.S. &
A.P.C.M. and now we are on a better footing. All well.

Wednesday Feb. 16 - 1898
The usual routine of business, nothing else. Except our
services. The prayermeeting to-night was conducted by
Mr. Morgan. O, yes we had mails tonight. Mrs. Crowley
two nice letters addressed to her - the first she had
addressed to her new name. One from her mother and one
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
from her sister Flera. My! but wasn't she proud & please
te get them. I was too. I had a nice letter from Mr.
Herron. I also recd a package of Monroe papers, centain-
ing the account of the Synod, also one copy of the Ladies
Home Journal. Both well.

Thursday Feb. 17, 1898

I made a new kitchen for Mrs. G. today and placed the
stove in it ~ it is a great improvement and new she does
net have te ge up & dewn steps to the kitchen, to tire
her, for the kitchen is just off the diningreom - saving
her lots of steps. Cur neighbere are very much concerned
gout us having the kitchen in the house, or a part of the
heuse. They are English, you know and do not understand
evr American ways. However, they think it must be noce.
You see the others all have their kitchen away from the
heuses, the same as our Southern peeple whe live in the
country. Every bedy came in to see the improvement. When
Mrs. Crowley came here, she began te make the nice little
dainties we have at home, and these English brethren &
sisters never heard of only by reading. Again nice light
rells were made and &c. Now Mrs. C. gets a let of praise
fer these new inventions as Mr. Graham calls them, and
eur neighbors now make devghnuts & rolls & and some other
nice things which Mrs. C. has introduced and they think
there is nothing like them. We are getting along so
nicely and we heave seme good neighbors and friends. Mrs.
C. and I are invited eut te dinner tomorrow night with
Mrs. Wooding. Mr. Cameron, of B.M.S. from Wat
</next_page_context>

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