Tomlinson, A. J. (Ambrose Jessup), 1865–1943
Person
Biography
Ambrose Jessup Tomlinson was born to a Quaker family in Westfield, Indiana on September 22, 1865. After marying Mary Jane Taylor in Fayette, Indiana in 1889, he worked as a Bible salesman and home missionary which brought him to Appalachia in the mountains of southwestern North Carolina. He operated a children's home, school, and farm in Culberson, North Carolina. In 1903, he joined with the Holiness Church at Camp Creek, North Carolina alongside R. G. Spurling and W. F. Bryant. He quickly ascended to leadership in the group and in 1909 was selected as the first general overseer of the group that had been renamed the Church of God. He served in that office until 1923 when he became the leader of the group now known as the Church of God of Prophecy.
Tomlinson was instrumental in moving the Church of God from the mountains into a growing city of the New South, Cleveland, Tennessee, which enabled the movement to utilize tools of modernity to spread the Full Gospel. He was a prolific publisher having steered the publication of the periodicals, Samson's Foxes, The Way, Church of God Evangel, The Faithful Standard, and later the White Wing Messenger. He also wrote The Last Great Conflict and other stand-alone works. He was an orphanage director, pastor, Bible college superintendent, and denominational leader.
Tomlinson passed away on October 2, 1943 after serving as a church leader for four decades. He and Mary Jane had four children, Homer, Milton, Halcy, and Iris.
Gender
- male
Occupations
Found in 170 Collections and/or Records:
Postcard from A.J. to Milton, Coconut Grove, Florida, February 7, 1911
Item — Box: M0015-3, Folder: 39
Scope and Contents
Text in A.J. Tomlinson's hand:"My little dear, I know you would love to see papa, and it is the same with me. But we sacrifice for Jesus. I'll come and see my boy some time. I see the big water out through the window where I am sitting. I hope you and mama and brother and sisters are all well and getting along good. God bless you all. Be good, and obey mama. Be nice in Sunday School. Pray for papa, and I'll pray for you.”Preparing for a ten-week mission trip to the...
Dates:
February 7, 1911
Reception Ribbon belonging to Mary Jane Tomlinson, 33rd Annual General Assembly , September 1938
Item — Container: Artifact Tray 1, Object: Row 5, Column 2
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
This collection consists of business and personal items belonging to members of the Tomlinson family spanning the years 1900 to 2015. The items have been divided into series according to family members, and organized chronologically within each series. The first series contains photographs, papers, books, and artifacts relating to the patriarch of the family, Ambrose Jessup Tomlinson. These items trace Tomlinson’s early work in the Church of God and the birth of the Church of...
Dates:
September 1938
Red Patterned Necktie belonging to A.J. Tomlinson
Item — Container: Artifact Tray 1, Object: Row 3, Column 1
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
This collection consists of business and personal items belonging to members of the Tomlinson family spanning the years 1900 to 2015. The items have been divided into series according to family members, and organized chronologically within each series. The first series contains photographs, papers, books, and artifacts relating to the patriarch of the family, Ambrose Jessup Tomlinson. These items trace Tomlinson’s early work in the Church of God and the birth of the Church of...
Dates:
1900 – 1943
Religious Census [Bradley County canvass and distribution of church tracts] organized by A.J. Tomlinson, October 1, 1940 – February 20, 1941
Item — Box: M0015-3, Folder: 35
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
This collection consists of business and personal items belonging to members of the Tomlinson family spanning the years 1900 to 2015. The items have been divided into series according to family members, and organized chronologically within each series. The first series contains photographs, papers, books, and artifacts relating to the patriarch of the family, Ambrose Jessup Tomlinson. These items trace Tomlinson’s early work in the Church of God and the birth of the Church of...
Dates:
October 1, 1940 – February 20, 1941
Research paper on Church of God History through A. J. Tomlinson and Church Conflict in 1923, unknown author and title, about 1980
Item — Box: M0015-3, Folder: 7
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
This collection consists of business and personal items belonging to members of the Tomlinson family spanning the years 1900 to 2015. The items have been divided into series according to family members, and organized chronologically within each series. The first series contains photographs, papers, books, and artifacts relating to the patriarch of the family, Ambrose Jessup Tomlinson. These items trace Tomlinson’s early work in the Church of God and the birth of the Church of...
Dates:
about 1980
“Rising Tide of the Church of God,” 35th General Assembly Report , 1940
Item — Box: M0015-2, Folder: 27
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
This collection consists of business and personal items belonging to members of the Tomlinson family spanning the years 1900 to 2015. The items have been divided into series according to family members, and organized chronologically within each series. The first series contains photographs, papers, books, and artifacts relating to the patriarch of the family, Ambrose Jessup Tomlinson. These items trace Tomlinson’s early work in the Church of God and the birth of the Church of...
Dates:
1940
Samson’s Foxes, photocopy, Vol. 1, No. 1 [January 1901], Vol. 1, No. 4 [April 1901], Vol. 1, No. 9 [September 20, 1901], Vol. 2, No. 2 [March 1902], Vol. 2, No. 5 [May 1902], Vol. 2, No. 6 [June 1902]
Item — Box: M0015-1, Folder: 24
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
This collection consists of business and personal items belonging to members of the Tomlinson family spanning the years 1900 to 2015. The items have been divided into series according to family members, and organized chronologically within each series. The first series contains photographs, papers, books, and artifacts relating to the patriarch of the family, Ambrose Jessup Tomlinson. These items trace Tomlinson’s early work in the Church of God and the birth of the Church of...
Dates:
Vol. 1, No. 1 [January 1901]; Vol. 1, No. 4 [April 1901]; Vol. 1, No. 9 [September 20, 1901]; Vol. 2, No. 2 [March 1902]; Vol. 2, No. 5 [May 1902]; Vol. 2, No. 6 [June 1902]
Samuel C. Perry collection, Journal of Happenings: The Diary of A.J. Tomlinson, bulk: March 7, 1901 - November 3, 1923
Item — Box: M0097-3, Folder: 2
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The Samuel C. Perry collection is derived from a donation of his daughter, Grace Anderson. The most significant part of the collection is 41 original issues of Perry's self-published newspaper, A Call To Prayer dating from 1940 through 1965, his ministerial credientials with the General Council of the Assemblies of God, correspondence with early leaders in the Pentecostal movement, and photocopies of Perry and his family. The collection also consists of a...
Dates:
Majority of material found in March 7, 1901 - November 3, 1923
Samuel C. Perry collection, Minutes of Elders Meeting, January 8, 1910
Item — Box: M0097-3, Folder: 2
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The Samuel C. Perry collection is derived from a donation of his daughter, Grace Anderson. The most significant part of the collection is 41 original issues of Perry's self-published newspaper, A Call To Prayer dating from 1940 through 1965, his ministerial credientials with the General Council of the Assemblies of God, correspondence with early leaders in the Pentecostal movement, and photocopies of Perry and his family. The collection also consists of a...
Dates:
January 8, 1910