# 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-102

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Saturday June 26 ~ 97
All the a.m. I worked on the books & at noon I met a Mr.
Keel agt. of the Dutch House who is now on his way from
the upper river & on his way home to Holland. I also met
a Mr. Von den Eynde (Dutch man) who is working on the
telephone line for Chermin de fer. He came up in the
pem. & stayed quite a while. I gave him some medicine.
While he was here another Kapeta with 14 men came in &
I had him & his men bring some grass to cover a little
house that I'm building. I gave them some rice for it
as mata bish & gave them all chop to wait over until
Mondays

Just before supper Mr. Ohlenschlager & Mr. Keel came
up & insisted that I should show my magic lantern in
their dining-room I did so & they all seemed to enjoy
it very much. After the performance Mr. Van den Ende
came up with me & I gave him some more medicine. No more
today so I will say good night.

Sunday June 27 1897

After chop this a.m. I went down to see Mr. Von den Eynde
& found him quite well. I came back & began to prepare
for a sermon for the p.m. service, as Mr. Morgan was not
well & desired me to take it for him. I sold a bible to
Mr. Von den Eynde. After the service Messrs Graham Wool-
ing & I went out for a short walk. I went then, to the
Maison Hollandaise & had supper & came back & we had the
service at my house. Messrs. Finnock & Wooling Wooding

& I were the only ones in attendance Mr. P. preached to
the 3 of us.

Monday June 28 - 1897

I have forgotten the important thing of this day I only
know that I have done very little for the Lord, or im-
proved my own time either.

Tuesday June 29 ~ 97

I have been painting most of the day and I find it very
hard work.

Nothing of importance has taken place.

Wednesday June 30 - 97
Today I have attended to my several duties & in the mean-
time done some painting. After supper I was to lead the
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
 & his
connection with the Congo Free State. I spoke of the
spread of the English Language &c. Then we had some
solo's & readings & a Quintette. I furnished the Magic
Lantern & Mr. Graham gave & exhibition with it after
which we had a collection & about 50 francs were given
after which I made a few remarks & we closed with the
Benediction of the Doxology.

Wednesday June 23 - 97
I told Mr. Vermij that he had better stay in bed until
noon, but about 10 o'clock he felt so well he thought he
would get up & he is O.K. now. After dinner a caravan
of 16 men came in & I loaded them up mostly with wire &
sent them away. I worked very hard & a good part of it
out in the sun & therefore I don't feel well tonight. I
signed somé bills of Exchange for Dr. Sims £ 27, 11.7. &
£10.00. & sent them off to London.

Thursday, June 24 - 97
Today, I purchased a book for another Kapeta & sent him
off with loads I have done very little today except my
duties about the house, send off the caravan, & and write
a letter to Messrs Whyte Ridsdale & Co. in regards to
Dr. Sims [Bf£.?]

Friday June 25 - 1897
I worked on books all the a.m. At noon a Capeta came in
(NGoma) but I had not enough loads for him, so I lent
him to B.M.S. In case I should need men at any time when
their men are in, I shall have them.
In the p.m. I helped Mr. D'Angremond put some rubber
tubing on his wheel & then came home & worked on the
books again. After supper I stopped in at B.M.S. a little
while & heard them sing. Good Night.
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Congo service but, as I could not speak or deliver a
sermon in the Congo Language I got one of the boys to

do it for me. My head man NKaku was ill & I got a C.BM.
boy to do it. We had a very good service & all went off
well.

. Thursday, July yst 97
Painted a little did the necessary work & at night,
attended a meeting of our Committee & we bro't up the
subject of the organization of a church at Tumba & we
revoked the action of a former meeting.

Friday, July and 97

very little done today except the ordinary duties. I
finished painting my room & will move into it tomorrow.
Dr. Mr. Harvey came in tonight, from Matadi.

Saturday, July 3rd 97

This a.m. I went down & stood on watch for Mr. D'Angremond
who was loading a car with rubber. I also had the boys
scrub out the room so that it w'd be dry by noon & after
dinner I could move into it. At noon, I asked Mr. D'An-
gremond if 1 might Mr. Harvey with me to supper. He
readily agreed. I took down a chicken some eggs & a tin
of peaches. I moved into my room & hung up a curtain,
getting some rings from Mrs. Graham. Mr. H. supped with
me, After which we stopped in at Mr. Grahams awhile. I
paid off Kunsaku today, 3 guns per mo. for 7 mose

Sunday, July 4 - 97

121 years ago this date some men were gathered into a room
in one of the publie buildings in Philadelphia and the
Declaration of Independence was signed. Today is Sunday,
and I am making ready for the worship of God. Mr. Harvey
preached to us in Congo & we had a nice service.
</next_page_context>

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