Sometimes it can be difficult to get an interviewee to remember when an event precisely took place. And it does not always matter.
Instead of focusing on dates, ask what was going on at the time. If the event was a marriage or funeral, ask if they attended the event and who do they remember being there. What time of the year was it? Did snow at the cemetery make getting there difficult? See if they can put the event in the chronology of other events in the family (moves, graduations, marriages, divorces, etc.). Ask if the event took place before or after a well-known historical event.
Don’t focus on the date of the event when talking to someone. Focus instead on what went on at the event, who was there, what food was eaten, etc. These questions often lead to more interesting answers and anecdotal information and may give you enough of a clue to help you pinpoint when a certain event took place.
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