# 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-025

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
continent of Europe. Then I have made good friends
with a young Dutchman, Mr. Van Leuween, who is a native
of Java, that is he was born there - his parents going
there years ago and are now living in the Dutch possession
in India. His mother is a Catholic and he was baptised a
catholic. His father is a protestant, however, and the
boy knows more about the protestant religion than he does
about the other. He, however, is well disposed to Christ-
lanity, but am sorry to say he kindly holds to the idea
that this life ends all - no future. He has read a great
deal and has gotten somewhat befogged as to his ideas and
aman like him it is hard to convince. We are sailing
along nicely and are now in the tropical clime. We are
in 20° North Latitude today and 17° West Longitude. At
night it is quite cold, but mornings and all through the
day very pleasant when not in the sun. But the most
beautiful moonlight nights. Oh, it is delightful and if
T only had my best girl L. with me to enjoy the trip what
a glorious time I could have. Tonight Bros. Wescott,
Morrison, Armstrong and myself went into my stateroom
and had prayers. I read a few verses from the 5th chapt.
Matt. and red in prayer the others praying as one would
finish until all had had a turn. After prayers we talked
about different things until about 12 o'clock midnight -
rather late - and passed a most delightful evening. I
don't think I mentioned before that we are on a German
line of steamers and they don't allow public service.
The Germans don't believe in pulling people into church --
as they express it -- but the Captain is well disposed
and has many friends among the missionaries. He told me
that sometimes he had as many as 16 missionaries on board
and when there were a good many thus, ladies and gentle-
men ~ by special consent of himself - they held daily
services among themselves in the ladies saloon. This
has not been a very eventful day - like a good many
others. About 12 o'clock today we passed a little fishing
boat and the 18t officer told me that it was one of a
number of the same kind that come out from Boston every
year and stay about six months and catch fish and put
then in firkins and then go back again and sell the
product. He did not know the name of the fish, but from
his description of them - being small and very good -
I'm inclined to think they are either or white
fish. Now with prayers for the safe voyage for friends,
relatives, Missionaries and the chureh & e I say goed
night
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
re sailing along very smoothly. We go
down the coast of Africa (out so far that we cannot see
it) on the peaceful Atlantic. I read in the life &
letters of Sam Lapsly - most interesting they are - more
so of course as I expect to go over the same route if
the Good Lord permits. I sit around and talk or read
nothing to do. After supper I go to the ladies saloon
(no lady on board) and at 10 o'clock p.m. I finish reading
that book so interesting and full of the works of a
noble consecrated life in the service of the Lord. Oh,
that I could be of some good to the Master who has been
so kind to me. But I am weak and wayward. I do not
live as close to the Lord as I should. I want to be more
consecrated - do more good. In the dining saloon some
Belgians are playing cards & drinking & the chief engin-
eer (with some of the passengers) is drinking very
heavily.

Dec. 17 - Thursday
A most bright and beautiful morning. The air cool and
somewhat bracing but the heat of the sun, when in it, is
quite scorching, and quite like a day in August. I have
been devising some way of getting some of the passengers
interested in the Lord Jesus Christ, but with the excep-
tion of a few it seems next to impossible. There are
several, however, three Sweeds, who are Christians -
nominal - and one Dutchman who says he is a Christian -
a Calvanist - but only in name as I can see for he drinks
a little and has a pleasant time - but it is no more than
one can expect from anyone who was born and reared on the
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Dec. 18 = Friday

Getting a little after sunrise I went out on deck to find
Morrison sitting there in the sunshine enjoying the beau-
tiful aem. and the fresh cool aire I sat down and read
my bible until breakfast which was enjoyed very much it
consisted of sheep liver - poached eggs, Irish potatoes,
bread & butter, cheese, tea or coffee ~ wine, beer,
champagne etc these latter I don't indulge in. A bright
beautiful clear day just pleasant enough to make one
enjoy a nice sea voyage if he only had his lady friends
with him. I saw some women at Las Palmas, Grand Canary,
but they were of a very poor specimen. All rough working
women of a mulatta complexion generally. Now I go to
luneh ~ dinner with us =~ and I eat heartily - come back
on deck and look for cape Verd. We see it = a crowd
gather and look. We see a shadow whieh is pronounced by
someone who professes to know = That's Cape Verde I not
being satisfied asked the Capt. but he smiled and said
8no. Indeed it was only a bank of cloud which had the
appearance of land. The afternoon passed on and now to
our hearts delight we see, about 6 o'clock a small point
of land which resembles the dome on one of the centennial
buildings in Nashville. We do not have time to view our
point long, however, until we are summoned by the eall
of a bell to dinner, we call it supper at home, however,
we obey the call and our first course was soupe Next
macaroni cooked with bits of ham and seasoned with some-
thing, I don't know, but smelled exac
</next_page_context>

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