# 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-238

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Tell Lilla to come out and play with us, for we are
only 3 - then there would be a single couple and a
married couple. good=night

Thursday Mar. 23 - 99

boys got wood today - this afternoon I went to post some
letters and while I was at the harbor a large boat came
in - when I came back, I found Sophie & Mr. Woolings
playing croquet ~ I raised a row about it too (7)

Friday Mer. 24 - 99

I forgot to mention that Sophie whipped our cook boy
yesterday afternoon - gave him chicotte. He did not
obey her and she followed him out to his house ~ dragged
him out from under his bed and gave him 13 lashes save 1.
He minded at the time immediately afterward I can tell
you. This p.m. when it came time for school he would
not go - so I took him in hand. 1 gave him a good sound
lecture. He covld not get over being whipped by a woman
he said if I had done it it would have been well = but to
have Nengwa (memma) whip him he could not stand that -
he is about 20 years old = quite a man you seee I tell
you I have to stand around pretty lively my self some-
times when things don't move as they ought.

Mrs. Gordon came over in her hammock this a.m. and
stayed until after dinner. she left early as she thought
her baby might need her attention. The steamer pioneer
is over at Kinshasa and will be down here tomorrow.

Saturday Mar. 25 - 99

About 10 o'clock this a.m. the steamer did come & Mr.
Wooding - our Tumba friend & a Miss Clark were on board.
Miss Clarke will sleep in one of our rooms while she is
here as Mrs. Crowley is the only woman at Leopoldville
and will be a chaperone. She will leave Monday a.m. for
Matadi to take ship for her home in England - she has
been out about 4 years - in perfect health - we find

her very nice. good-night.

Sunday Mar. 26 - 99

Mr. Wooding had the Gongo service this aem. I had the
Eng. service this pem. Mrs. Crowley let NKaku have
entire charge of the &.S. and she went to church. We
had all of them for afternoon tea with us & a state
man ~Mr. Legrus alsoe Good night.
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
ame, some things that we ordered last July. We ordered
a cheap croquet set, but to our surprise & bewilderment,
it was a fine expensive one. As soon however as we
opened it up and realized its value I found a purchaser-
so sold it at once. We poor missionaries could not
afford such a luxury. We shall have the pleasure of
playing with it, however, occasionally. Some little
spools of white silk &c. and a nice piece of cretome and
cloth for a mosquito net - People who dont have mosqui-
toes should rejoice. Good night. all well-

Mr. Woolings had both morning & afternoon service Mrs.
C. had her S.S. class as usual - Nothing else of interest
except the chief of the port, cant speak English, came
over and had a cup of tea with me this p.m. and went with
me to church. Good night.

I had the boys cutting, or rather, digging up grass and
cleaning walks about the place. good night.

Did up some papers and sent them by the capt. of the
Princess Clenmontine to Mr. Kiehl - Dutch-man at Stanley
Falls. Having a general cleaning up in the way of
digging up grass.

I had the ground cleaned up for the croquet set - the
fellow has not taken it away yet, and placed the wickets
& posts & Sophie & I had a game. I beat her the first
two games just a little - that is I went all the way
round the first game while she went through the first 3
wickets don't you tell her will you - and the second
game she just got ½ way. But the 3rd game I played with
Mr. Woolings and I beat him worse than I did Sophie.
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Monday Mar. 27 - 99

Mr. Wooding & Miss Clark left on the train at 6 o'clock
this asm. for Matadi - Mr. M°Gregor is loading up the
steamer and will start back immediately after dinner. I
may go to Kinshassa with him. noon - the boat is loaded &
Sophie said if the boat did not go until about 4 p.m.
she would go to Kinshasa on the boat and stay all night
with Mrs. Gordon. I asked Mac about the time the: boat
would leave & he told me about 3:30 or 4 - so Sophie
decided tc go.e We had been using a bureau belonging to
Mr. Morgan for some months and he sent for it so we
empties the drawers and converted an old side board into
a dresser. 5 o'clock the boat left and it was so late
that I had not time to go with Sophie to Kinshasa - as I
would have to come back home for the night, so she went
over with the capt. I am now a widower for the night.

I took my pudding & some chicken down to Mr. Woolings
and we had supper together. The boys are all outside
singing and having a good time = after prayers = I

rung the bell & called them in - all our boys came in
but a lot of others stayed outside & kept up their
noise. I went out with my whip & soon scattered them.

I am lonely now and will retire, hoping to go to
Kinshasa in the aem. tomorrow. I have gone away from
Sophie and left her at home for several days, but this
is the 18t time that she has left me.

Tuesday Mar. 28 - 1899

It rained all night last night and till about 8 o'clock
this aem. After it stopped I rode my bike to Kinshasa
w
</next_page_context>

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