# 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-165

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Wednesday April 20 - 1898
This a.m. before breakfast I was called to the telephone
by Mr. Sheppard who had arrived at NKissi with his wife &
beby - & he told me that they would be down on the train
this eve ~ train came - they came ~ all well - we were all
glad to see them. Not only our mission but all the mie~
sionaries here ~ the little baby is white. You see Mr. &
'Mrs. Sheppard are almost white ~ of course the little one
will be darker as it grows older -- Tonight we had a magic
lantern show for the Congo boys. Good night.

Thursdey April 21 ~ 1898

A nice day. Mr. & Mrs. 8. & baby all well - I paid their
tickets from Nkissi to Tumba Mr. 3. gave some curious to
us & tonight we had ancther magic lantern show for the
Accras. English speaking people. Mr. & Mrs. 8. will
leave Tumba on Tuesday next for Matadi where they will
take ship & sail for England. good-night.

Friday April 22 ~ 1896

Quite a busy day making preparations for the departure of

Mrs. S. & Baby ~ tonight Mrs. Graham had us all at her

house to supper and we had a most excellent supper ~ Mrs.
, Sheppard was formerly one of the noted Jubilee singers-

and-and you can imagine what a nice time we had until

11 o'clock. Mr. 8. is full of fun. Mr. & Mrs. G are both

musical & love singing. Good-night.

Saturday April 23 + 1898

Another quite busy day both for me & Mrs. Crowley - packin,
& repacking - & Mr. & Mr. Sheppard goes off next Tuesday
with Mr. & Mre. Graham. Tonight we had another glorious
time et Mr. Graham's - some of the traders were up - & it
was a treat for them to hear Mrs. Sheppard sing.

Sunday April 24 -~ 1896
This a.m. Mr. Wooding preached - In the Poems Mr. Graham
gave us his farewell wermon - At night I conducted the

service at Mr. Graham's house - after which we had more
singing.

Monday April 25 - 1898

Plenty work today everything and every body ready for thei?
trip. Mr. Dodds of B.M.S. came in today and that makes us
about 10 missionaries that I know of all going on the same
steamer. What a glorious time they will have,
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
nicer, but we
will not complain. If we move it will not take letters
any longer to reach us for Stanley Pool is the terminus
of Chemin de Fer du Congo" and it will be only 1½ days
from Matadi. I hardly think we will go to Luebo to live.
House cleaning &c for Sunday. good night

Sunday April 17 - 1898
A nice day pleasant. Mr. Morgan's turn to preach the Con-
go service but he got a native to do it for him. Sophie
& I did not go as she had a severe head & back-ache. She
slept nearly all day. In the after-noon Mr. Wilks preachec
to the Accras. I went but Sophie did not. After service
she was better & we had a little walk. Service in the
evening was at our house & Mr. Wooding preached All there
or here except Mrs. Graham who did not feel well enough
to come out. About 9:30 p.m. we retired and had a nood-
night's rest.

Monday April 18 - 1898
This a.m. Sophie got up feeling considerably better - but
shortly after breakfast she began to feel badly again -
head & back-ache - regularly about once per month she has
a bad spell which lasts about 1 week generally ~ nothing
serious however - as I'm told all women have the same
complaint. I looked for Mr. Sheppard, wife and baby but
they did not come. I saw an officer of the state who came
down as far as the Pool with them. Good night.

Tuesday April 19 - 1898
I rec'd a letter last night that the money had beed rec'd
for the house, so in a few days, we will move into another
building, which is here, vacant. Nothing much of interest
today.
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Tuesday April 26 - 1898

This a.m. early we went and saw the friends off ~ Mrs.
Graham & Sophie had become so much attached to one another
that it was hard for them to say good-bye. I was so fond
of them both Mr. & Mrs. Graham. But it was not so hard
for me as for Sophie. It rained very hard before we went
to the depot, but for an hour or so it was dry ~ then it
began to rain & continued nearly all day. I have been
doing some work toward moving. In a few days we will be
in another house D.V. a few steps from where we now live -
we will not go to the Fool for several months yet It is
quite lonesome in Miss. quarters now

Wednesday April 27 - 1898

Wednesday we begen cleaning house - the house we are going
to live in for a few months. Sophie & the boys went over
& began work while I stayed at home & did some packing. I
had the Congo service tonight. Good-night.

Thursday April 28 ~ 1898

Today we began moving in earnest - carried over quite a
good many things. Ate dinner with Mr. Pinnock - had a
call from Madam Solluer also Mr. & Mrs. Wooding. Mr.
Finnock & Morgan came in. very tired - but otherwise
very well.

Friday April 29 - 1898

Still moving did not intend to sleep in the new home
tonight but Sophie decided we had better get through with
it so we had our bed trunks & moved over. We ate dinner
& supper with Mr. Pinnock ~ will eat dinner & breakfast
with him tomorrow D.V. after which we will be ready to
live at home again - we are now in our other home -
although we have no
</next_page_context>

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