Jim Sheridan, Full Interview

Collection: Queens Memory Collection at the Archives at Queens Library: Jim Sheridan

Date: Time Period: 1930 - 2013; 2013-08-09; Interview recorded: August 9, 2013 Material: Digital audio recording made using TASCAM DR-07 digital recorder and Adobe Sound Booth. Dimension: Total running time: 0:43:48

Creator: Jim Sheridan Interviewed by Natalie Milbrodt Identifier: aql:19442 qmp-jm-full-000004

Description: Jim Sheridan's father, Owney Sheridan moved to the United States from Ireland in the 1920s. He started as a grounds worker at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills around 1932 and worked his way up to the head groundskeeper position where he worked until retirement in 1978. Jim began working at the club in 1964 as a 14 year-old and continued working there throughout his high school and college years. He graduated with a horticulture degree from Cornell and worked first for the government and then for Fordham University before returning after his father's retirement to serve as the groundskeeper for the West Side Tennis Club for 20 years. He left his full time post at the club in 2000 to start his own business, but continues to work with the club as a grounds consultant. Sheridan discusses his family's history with the club and its members. He explains the club's move away from all grass courts as the popularity and use of the courts increased over time. A major focus of the interview are the concerts once held at the club's stadium that were about to start again at the time of this interview in the summer of 2013. Sheridan shares his memories of being backstage during shows and some of the details about preparations and clean-up for concerts. He shares insights into the impact of concerts on the relations between community members and the club.

Title : Jim Sheridan, Full Interview

Collection : aql:20455; aql:19471

Creator : Jim Sheridan Interviewed by Natalie Milbrodt

Date : Time Period: 1930 - 2013; 2013-08-09; Interview recorded: August 9, 2013

Summary/Description : Jim Sheridan's father, Owney Sheridan moved to the United States from Ireland in the 1920s. He started as a grounds worker at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills around 1932 and worked his way up to the head groundskeeper position where he worked until retirement in 1978. Jim began working at the club in 1964 as a 14 year-old and continued working there throughout his high school and college years. He graduated with a horticulture degree from Cornell and worked first for the government and then for Fordham University before returning after his father's retirement to serve as the groundskeeper for the West Side Tennis Club for 20 years. He left his full time post at the club in 2000 to start his own business, but continues to work with the club as a grounds consultant. Sheridan discusses his family's history with the club and its members. He explains the club's move away from all grass courts as the popularity and use of the courts increased over time. A major focus of the interview are the concerts once held at the club's stadium that were about to start again at the time of this interview in the summer of 2013. Sheridan shares his memories of being backstage during shows and some of the details about preparations and clean-up for concerts. He shares insights into the impact of concerts on the relations between community members and the club.

Subject : Tennis clubs; Children of immigrants; Rock concerts; West Side Tennis Club, Forest Hills, N.Y.

Relation : Queens Memory Collection at the Archives at Queens Library: Jim Sheridan

Rights : Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.

Coverage : Locations discussed: West Side Tennis Club, Forest Hills, Queens, NY Forest Hills (New York, N.Y.) Queens (New York, N.Y.)

Type : Oral history

Format : Digital audio recording made using TASCAM DR-07 digital recorder and Adobe Sound Booth.; Total running time: 0:43:48

Identifier : aql:19442 qmp-jm-full-000004