diff --git a/docs/index.md b/docs/index.md
index f8c4be4..52fd35f 100644
--- a/docs/index.md
+++ b/docs/index.md
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ This project is a production application for transcribing and preserving histori
 
 Read [architecture.md](architecture.md) first.
 
-Then review [ver1/ver1.md](ver1/ver1.md) for completion scope and [ver1/ver1-step1-results.md](ver1/ver1-step1-results.md) for current architecture-consolidation status.
+Then review [ver1/ver1.md](ver1/ver1.md) for completion scope.
 
 The architecture page is the primary technical reference and defines:
 
@@ -41,10 +41,8 @@ This operating model keeps deployment and maintenance simple while preserving cl
 
 ## Documentation Map
 
-- Architecture and technical design: [architecture.md](architecture.md)
 - Version 1 implementation plan: [ver1/ver1.md](ver1/ver1.md)
-- Version 1 Step 1 plan: [ver1/ver1-step1.md](ver1/ver1-step1.md)
-- Version 1 Step 1 results: [ver1/ver1-step1-results.md](ver1/ver1-step1-results.md)
+- Architecture and technical design: [architecture.md](architecture.md)
 - Architecture decision records (ADR index): [adr/README.md](adr/README.md)
 - Runtime and deployment requirements: [requirements.md](requirements.md)
 - Error handling policy and operational guidance: [error_handling.md](error_handling.md)
diff --git a/docs/ver1/ver1-step6.md b/docs/ver1/ver1-step6.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..381d571
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/ver1/ver1-step6.md
@@ -0,0 +1,206 @@
+## Step 6 Goal (from `docs/ver1/ver1.md`)
+Implement **minimal observability & operability** so a single operator can quickly diagnose and recover from common failures.
+
+---
+
+## 1) Current-State Assessment (what already exists)
+
+### Already in place
+- Central startup logging initialization via `setup_logging()` and `dictConfig` (`src/transcription/config.py`, `src/transcription/app.py`).
+- Error taxonomy and `error_id` envelope contract (`src/transcription/errors.py`) aligned with `docs/error_handling.md`.
+- Error handling for API and worker includes category + error IDs in some paths (`src/transcription/api/errors.py`, `src/transcription/worker.py`).
+- Basic health endpoint `/healthz` (`src/transcription/api/health.py`).
+- UI error display already shows actionable message + error reference (`src/transcription/ui/error_presenter.py`).
+
+### Gaps to close for Step 6
+1. **Structured logging is inconsistent** (many logs are free-form text with embedded key/value; no enforced schema).
+2. **Boundary coverage is incomplete** (UI/service/API/worker don’t all emit consistent operation logs).
+3. `/healthz` is very basic; no lightweight readiness/startup diagnostics endpoint/reporting.
+4. No concise **operator runbook** yet (start/stop, log interpretation, recovery playbooks).
+5. Minimal counters/timings are not yet standardized.
+
+---
+
+## 2) MCP Guidance Incorporated (relevant items)
+
+From `john-stream-mcp`, these are directly applied:
+
+- **`python-logging-dictconfig`**: keep one centralized `dictConfig`, configure once at startup, named loggers in modules.
+- **`fastapi-async-sqlalchemy-modernization`**: include observability + health/readiness checks; explicit lifecycle and deterministic startup/shutdown checks.
+- **`fastapi-uv-docker`**: keep `/healthz`; add practical readiness/ops checks for deployment clarity.
+- **`pytesting`**: deterministic tests, concise structure, validation lanes (`collect-only`, `unit`, `not external`, full).
+- **`pydantic-settings`**: keep typed settings as single source for logging/health behavior flags.
+- **`nicegui` + `nicegui-ui-customization`**: preserve clear, actionable user-facing error feedback and non-blocking UI flows.
+- **`zensical-docs`**: produce focused, navigable operator docs.
+
+(Other MCP resources were reviewed but are not core to Step 6 implementation scope.)
+
+---
+
+## 3) Detailed Implementation Plan for Step 6
+
+## Workstream A — Structured Logging Contract
+
+### A1. Define a canonical log event schema
+Create a project log schema (doc + code-level constants) with required keys:
+- `timestamp` (UTC)
+- `level`
+- `logger`
+- `operation`
+- `event`
+- `error_id` (when error)
+- `category` (when error)
+- `exception_type` (when error)
+- `job_id`, `document_id` (when relevant)
+- optional: `duration_ms`, `retry_count`, `status`
+
+### A2. Standardize log emission helpers
+Add small logging helpers (or adapter utilities) to reduce drift:
+- `log_operation_start(...)`
+- `log_operation_success(...)`
+- `log_operation_error(...)`
+
+Keep this minimal and avoid heavy observability frameworks.
+
+### A3. Update formatter to structured output
+Use `dictConfig` to emit either:
+- JSON lines (preferred for structure), or
+- strict key-value line format with fixed fields.
+
+**Recommendation:** JSON lines to satisfy “structured logging” unambiguously while still simple.
+
+---
+
+## Workstream B — Boundary-by-Boundary Instrumentation
+
+### B1. API boundary (`src/transcription/api/*`)
+- Add request-level operation logs for key routes (`upload.submit`, `jobs.list`, `jobs.get`, etc.).
+- Ensure API exception handler logs always include `error_id`, `category`, `operation`, `exception_type`.
+
+### B2. Service boundary (`src/transcription/services/*`)
+- Add operation logs around:
+  - upload validation/persist,
+  - transcription orchestration,
+  - revision add/accept,
+  - search/export.
+- Add timing (`duration_ms`) for high-value operations only.
+
+### B3. Worker boundary (`src/transcription/worker.py`)
+- Standardize all worker log events to schema.
+- Ensure retry logs include: `retriable`, `retry_count`, `max_retries`, `backoff_seconds`.
+- Ensure terminal failure logs include error contract fields.
+
+### B4. UI boundary (`src/transcription/ui/*`)
+- Keep user-safe UI messages as-is.
+- Add backend/UI logger events for user-triggered failures (operation + error_id + category) so UI-visible errors correlate to server logs.
+
+---
+
+## Workstream C — Health, Readiness, Startup Operability
+
+### C1. Keep `/healthz` lightweight
+- Return “process is running” status quickly.
+
+### C2. Add lightweight `/readyz`
+Include small checks:
+- DB connectivity ping.
+- Worker thread alive check.
+- Optional prompt directory existence check.
+
+Return structured status payload with per-check pass/fail.
+
+### C3. Startup self-check summary log
+At startup, emit one concise ops summary event:
+- environment
+- schema validation result
+- worker started
+- directories checked
+- bootstrap/migration mode flags
+
+---
+
+## Workstream D — Minimal Counters & Timings
+
+Add only high-value diagnostics:
+1. `worker_jobs_processed_total`
+2. `worker_jobs_failed_total`
+3. `worker_retries_total`
+4. `transcription_duration_ms` (per job)
+5. `upload_persist_duration_ms` (per upload path)
+
+Implementation can be log-derived counters (no external metrics backend required).
+
+---
+
+## Workstream E — Operator Runbook
+
+Create concise runbook doc (recommended: `docs/ver1/ver1-step6-operator-runbook.md`) with:
+
+1. **Start/Stop**
+   - local `uv` run mode
+   - docker compose mode (if applicable)
+
+2. **Where logs are**
+   - stdout, docker logs commands, filtering by `error_id` / `operation`.
+
+3. **Common failure patterns → recovery**
+   - provider timeout
+   - auth denied
+   - missing prompt dir
+   - DB unavailable
+   - job stuck/failed with retry exhausted
+
+4. **Recovery procedures**
+   - restart sequence
+   - verify health/readiness
+   - when to requeue/re-upload
+
+5. **Escalation artifacts**
+   - capture timestamp + error_id + operation + job_id/document_id
+
+Also update `README.md` with short links to the runbook.
+
+---
+
+## Workstream F — Verification & Quality Gates
+
+### Tests to add/update
+- `tests/api/test_health.py`
+  - `/healthz` baseline
+  - `/readyz` pass/fail behavior
+- `tests/api/test_error_responses.py` / `tests/api/test_routes.py`
+  - logs include `error_id/category/operation` on failures
+- `tests/services/test_worker.py`
+  - retry/failure log fields + timing presence
+- `tests/ui/*`
+  - ensure UI error correlation path includes operation/ref id behavior
+
+### Validation commands (per MCP pytest guidance)
+- `uv run pytest --collect-only -q`
+- `uv run pytest -m unit -q`
+- `uv run pytest -m "not external" -q`
+- `uv run pytest -q`
+
+---
+
+## 4) Traceability to Governing Docs
+
+- **`docs/ver1/ver1.md` Step 6:** all 5 implementation bullets covered.
+- **`docs/error_handling.md`:** logging contract fields and error taxonomy continuity enforced.
+- **`docs/architecture.md`:** respects modular boundaries, in-process worker model, low-complexity ops.
+- **`docs/requirements.md`:**
+  - REQ-8 (startup logging/config centralization) strengthened,
+  - REQ-5 (status visibility) improved operationally,
+  - REQ-7 lifecycle ownership observability improved.
+- **`docs/intent.md`:** keeps operation simple for personal-scale archival workflow.
+
+---
+
+## 5) Suggested Execution Order (low risk)
+
+1. Logging schema + formatter + helpers  
+2. Worker/API instrumentation (highest value)  
+3. Service/UI instrumentation  
+4. `/readyz` + startup summary check  
+5. Runbook + README links  
+6. Tests + Step 6 results artifact (`docs/ver1/ver1-step6-results.md`)
diff --git a/uploads/10176990-fb97-4463-8065-00b57c3c8ea5_Hig's postcards to Zenna - October 24, 1924.jpg b/uploads/10176990-fb97-4463-8065-00b57c3c8ea5_Hig's postcards to Zenna - October 24, 1924.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dbcab73
Binary files /dev/null and b/uploads/10176990-fb97-4463-8065-00b57c3c8ea5_Hig's postcards to Zenna - October 24, 1924.jpg differ