James Herbert Crosland was born in Cleckheaton, United Kingdom, on 18 February 1874. His father was Secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Educated at Boothby, he joined the family business of card clothing manufacturers. He was involved from an early age in Quaker activities for youth. In 1898 he moved to Sheffield to join the steel trade and in 1903 married Constance Mary Robson of Huddersfield. During the First World War, Crosland was active in the Quaker movement to resist conscription, and was Quaker chaplain to conscientious objectors in Liverpool prison. He left the steel business to work with the Society of Friends. In 1932-1933, Crosland was asked to visit Australia to assist with problems in the Hobart meeting. On the way, he visited Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne and kept a detailed diary. In 1935, the Croslands migrated to Australia to live at Gosnells, near Perth, serving in Perth as Clerk of General Meeting, 1936-1944. In 1944, Crosland was appointed to the Board of Governors of The Friends' School, Hobart. Crosland died in Australia on 28 February 1949, from complications following typhus.
From the description of Diary of Herbert Crosland, 1932-1933 [manuscript]. [1932-1933] (Libraries Australia). WorldCat record id: 724024093
