# 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-249

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Leepeldville Tuesday May 9 - 99

Thie a.m. up bright & early - had breakfast before
Sephie arese I went to the beach and saw my sick
friend & he was better. I fixed seme perrige for him
& he ate heartily. About & o'cleck I get on board of
a little steam launch ne seat - sat en a pile of weed -
2 Engineers were very busy all the way peuring en the
oil. I never saw so much eil used. I think in the
ceurse of an hour & a half they must have used at

least 2 gals. eil. Capt. Otte stepped at Gerdon's
place and put me out. I sat with Jeffry awhile, and
after dinner I went te the Dutch House. I came back
had tea and walked home. I have sold my bike it was
an eld clumsy heavy thing and used to tire me te ride
it -

Wednesday May 10 - 99

I went to the beach this a.m. & saw the sick man and
he was much better. About 9 o'cleck the little steamer
came in ~ seme tubs breke at Ndole & it teek them all
night to fix them. I went with Sephie te be weighed
teday ~ can you guess 138 lbs. it is a factl I weigh
150 ~ same as I did in America - she will tell you

all about it - selid flesh - fat face - bread shoulders
&e &e &e.

Thursday May 11 ~- 1899

Teday, pom. S.8. Henry Reed of A.B.M.U. came in bringing
Mr. and Mrs. Banks & Mr. & Mrs. Billingten. Mr. & Mrs.
B. & Mrs. Banks are on their way home te England. Mrs.
Banks has a nice little baby 2 menths old ~ and she has
4 children at home - she has been in Conge 12 years.

Her husband 18 years. They had a nice home at Equator
but the seciety sold it te the Fereign Christian Missien
Seciety (Cambelites) Mr. & Mrs. Banks and baby will
stay with Mr. Weelings. We perhaps will go up te IKeke-
Mr. Jeseph Clark's place, on the Reed.

Friday May 12 - 99

This a.m. very early, the party went off, & Mr. Banks
was left here alene, a sad man - having parted with his
wife and little ene. I asked Mr. Banks this a.m. what
eur trip would cest and he teld me 20 dellars each - each
way, - fer passage besides our board. We concluded we
gould net go - as we had thought before that we were te.
ge as guests. Just as we got back fxem the train we

met Mr. Harber & Mr. Gilchrist - beth ef C.B.M. they had
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
m. & had quite a visit a capt. of steamer.

After breakfast this a.m. Sophie decided she would go
to Kinshasa for a change & see Mrs. Gordon whom she
has not seen for a month or so. I had the boys up &
the hammock ready - she got in and away they went - I
had to stay at home all day alone. I had the Saturday
house cleaning done I made up the bed - baked bread-
Sophie carried off the cook - as he is her pet boy-
so I had to get my own dinner. About 5 o'clock p.m. I
mounted a wheel & went to meet her - she got home about
5:30 p.m. Very glad to get back to her hubby, you know(

Mr. W. has sore throat & I & my boy Nkaku had the ser-
vice this a.m. For dinner we have green corn, scalloped
oysters sweet potatoes & other things too scarce to
mention. Mr. W. will have the service this p.m. Good
bye all well Stephen & Sophie

Yesterday afternoon late, Mr. Gordon sent over for me
or Mr. Woolings to go to Kinshasa & nurse Mr. Jeffery
through the night, as his temperature was higher &
needed the utmost care. Mr. W. was to preach, but I
took his place & he went to Kinshasa. This a.m. Mr.
J. was better & continues to improve. I went for Quanga
today, but rec'd none. Native food for the boys - so
they had to have rice - I went down to the steamer and
found the capt. sick ("Brabant") Jensu, and I advised
him what to do & sent him some oat meal & some eggs.
Capt. Otto told me he was going to try the little side-
wheeler Col. Wahees, so I told him I would ride to
Kinshasa with him. Good-night.
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
been out all night in a canoe coming down river te try
te catch the train. Steamer Pieneer ef @.B.M.. having
ledged on a sand bank last night. It came in hewever,
abeut 10 e'cleck this a.m. Mr. M°Greger Master - Mr.

& Mrs. Nye Mrs. Cele, Mr. Buthan en beard - five persons
going heme en this steamer. Mr. Jeffreys & Mr. & Mrs.
Fields of B.M.S. went down to Matadi alse. Abeut 20
missionaries will sail en the steamer Leepeldville this
time fer England. Mr. Banks caught a nice fish and sent
it up teday.

Saturday May 13 - 99

I speke te Mr. M°Greger about going up with him en the
Pieneer and he will let us knew Menday - Mr. Banks with
Reed will leave Menday. Mr. & Mre. Nye came in and
called on us this pm. Mrs. Nye is very nice ~ M°Gregor
and I went dewn to the Beach this pom. He wanted to
have a leek at the Brabent a large beat belonging te

the State.

Sunday May 14 ~ 99

After breskfast I went ever to the State place & en
the Steamer and invited out quite a number of men they
premised te come. I saw some horrible sights - White
men drunk - running areund crazy bare headed - Men whe
had been te church tee. This after-noen at service
there were 25 white peeple ~ 3 ladies = besides the
colered people. Mr. Butham ef C.B.M. preached. He
says a thing and makes a very leng pause. Nkaku had
the 8.8. service. Mr. Wooling preached this a.m. te
the Cenge beys. After service this pom. we teek a
little walk. Mr. Pinneck & Mr. Gerden came over this
a@em. and had dinner with us. Mr. Pinneck
</next_page_context>

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