How many records does the archive hold?

69,585 records about Christchurch, every one linked at the provider that keeps the original.

How far back does the archive reach?

1800, the oldest record on file.

Where do the records come from?

30 collections: council archives, Papers Past, DigitalNZ’s partners, cemetery registers, the heritage list itself. The shelf says what exists and where it lives.

Are these documents verified?

They are leads and citations, not evidence, a record says a document exists and where to read it. What a document actually says is only claimed once somebody has read it; those readings live on the place pages.

“Christchurch Tram”, the shelf

Every record the archive holds about Christchurch, the oldest first. The originals live at the provider each row links to.

3,311 records matching 100 of these 100 with their text read Papers Past · Canterbury Stories · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Te Papa Collections Online · National Publicity Studios black and white file prints · TAPUHI · Canterbury Museum · Auckland Museum Collections · New Zealand Gazette · Digital Public Library of America · V.C. Browne & Son NZ Aerial Photograph Collection · Christchurch City Libraries Flickr · Hocken Digital Collections · Museums Victoria · Air Force Museum of New Zealand Photograph Collection · Wellington City Council Archives · The New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero · New Zealand Electronic Text Collection · Christchurch City Libraries Heritage Images Collection · Lincoln University Living Heritage: Tikaka Tuku Iho · Flickr · Radio New Zealand · Alexander Turnbull Library Flickr · Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki · Te Hikoi Museum · iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao · Manawatū Heritage · Canterbury Photography Museum · Akaroa Museum · Hawke's Bay Museum

the 1880s
23 Nov 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 23 November 1883) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1883
ACCIDENTS AND INQUESTS. (Auckland Star, 08 December 1883) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1883
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times, 27 December 1883) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wanganui Herald, 27 December 1883) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jan 1884
ROUND ABOUT NEW ZEALAND. (Grey River Argus, 31 January 1884) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Feb 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Mar 1884
Latest Locals. (Star, 17 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 19 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 29 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 07 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1884
Latest Locals. (Star, 20 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1884
FOOTBALL. (Star, 17 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 04 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 15 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 25 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Nov 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 26 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Nov 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 05 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1884
Local & General. (Star, 22 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 16 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 20 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 28 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Jan 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 29 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1885
THE NEW BOYS HIGH SCHOOL. (Otago Daily Times, 12 February 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
27 Feb 1885
THE NEW BOYS HIGH SCHOOL. (Otago Daily Times, 27 February 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Mar 1885
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 16 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Mar 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 18 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1885
Road to New Brighton. (Star, 30 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Apr 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 01 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1885
The Volunteers. (Star, 27 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 12 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1885
MAGISTERIAL. (Star, 15 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jul 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jul 1885
Page 4 Advertisements Column 7 (Timaru Herald, 10 July 1885) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jul 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 18 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jul 1885
Page 4 Advertisements Column 7 (Timaru Herald, 28 July 1885) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1885
City-Linwood Tramway. (Star, 19 August 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1885
Road Boards. (Star, 27 August 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 27 August 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 August 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1885
Page 4 Advertisements Column 7 (Timaru Herald, 31 August 1885) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 22 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
24 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
25 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place

Most of these originals are not republishable here, the link goes to the provider that keeps them. A search result is a lead, not evidence: what a document actually says is only claimed once somebody has read it, and those readings live on the place pages.

“Christchurch Tram”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch