How many records does the archive hold?

63,896 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.

“Cotton On”, the shelf

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

518 records matching 90 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 1860s
31 Oct 1868
Letter to Mary, 31st October 1868 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71241 · Christchurch City Libraries
31 Oct 1868
Letter to Mary, 31st October 1868 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71240 · Christchurch City Libraries
23 Feb 1869
Letter to Mary, 23rd February 1869 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71209 · Christchurch City Libraries
23 Feb 1869
Letter to Mary, 23rd February 1869 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71210 · Christchurch City Libraries
the 1870s
1 Mar 1870
Local and General. (Star, 01 March 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1870
MEMORANDA OF TRIE MONIR. (Wellington Independent, 02 June 1870) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jul 1870
Local and General. (Star, 12 July 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1870
Local and General. (Star, 18 July 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1870
Local and General. (Star, 29 September 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Jan 1871
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times, 28 January 1871) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1871
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Bruce Herald, 08 March 1871) Bruce Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
2 Aug 1871
Letter to Cotton and Mary, 2nd August 1871 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71219 · Christchurch City Libraries
2 Aug 1871
Letter to Cotton and Mary, 2nd August 1871 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71220 · Christchurch City Libraries
4 Aug 1871
NEW ZEALAND. (Colonist, 04 August 1871) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 18 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 15 February 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 21 March 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1872
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CANTERBURY MUSEUM. (Star, 22 April 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Sept 1872
VANDALISM AT THE TERRACES IN THE LAKE DISTRICT. (Colonist, 27 September 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 22 March 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1873
Local and General. (Star, 19 July 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1873
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 September 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1873
Untitled (Bruce Herald, 17 October 1873) Bruce Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Oct 1873
GENERAL. (Star, 18 October 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1873
Local and General News. (Marlborough Express, 25 October 1873) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1874
NEWS BY THE SUEZ MAIL. (Colonist, 21 April 1874) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Sept 1874
ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC. XXIII. GENTE HERMOSA (Continued). (Daily Southern Cross, 14 September 1874) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1875
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 05 February 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Apr 1875
West Coast Time. TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1875. (West Coast Times, 06 April 1875) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 27 May 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jun 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 June 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1876
A SINGULAR CASE. (Marlborough Express, 20 September 1876) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Nov 1876
EXPRESS" TELEGRAMS (Marlborough Express, 08 November 1876) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1876
CANTERBURY METROPOLITAN MEETING. (Otago Daily Times, 11 November 1876) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Nov 1876
Sporting. (Otago Witness, 18 November 1876) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1877
Letter to Mary, 14th March 1877 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71231 · Christchurch City Libraries
14 Mar 1877
Letter to Mary, 14th March 1877 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71232 · Christchurch City Libraries
3 Dec 1877
Untitled (Auckland Star, 03 December 1877) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Dec 1877
CRICKET. (Timaru Herald, 31 December 1877) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Apr 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Auckland Star, 20 April 1878) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Apr 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Auckland Star, 23 April 1878) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Auckland Star, 25 April 1878) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1878
Letter to Mary, 15th June 1878 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71236 · Christchurch City Libraries
15 Jun 1878
Letter to Mary, 15th June 1878 Rowley family letters · Canterbury Stories · no. 71237 · Christchurch City Libraries
27 Sept 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 30 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 08 October 1878) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 29 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 04 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Dec 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 09 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 February 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Feb 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 February 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Feb 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 21 February 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Grey River Argus, 07 March 1879) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Mar 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Grey River Argus, 26 March 1879) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Grey River Argus, 27 March 1879) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Mar 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Grey River Argus, 31 March 1879) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1879
MEETING OF CREDITORS. MR. R. J. DUNCAN. (Evening Post, 05 April 1879) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Apr 1879
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 29 April 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Aug 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Aug 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 25 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1879
Untitled (Timaru Herald, 22 December 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
3 Apr 1880
TELEGRAPHIC. (Colonist, 03 April 1880) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 May 1880
Untitled (Auckland Star, 11 May 1880) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jul 1881
Local & General. (Star, 16 July 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jul 1881
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (West Coast Times, 20 July 1881) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Jul 1881
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (West Coast Times, 21 July 1881) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Mar 1882
Local & General. (Star, 06 March 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Apr 1882
THE EXHIBITION. (Star, 11 April 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1882
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 May 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1882
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 June 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
3 Jul 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 03 July 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1882
AUSTRALIA v. ENGLAND. (Evening Post, 31 August 1882) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 07 October 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 October 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 11 November 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Nov 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 November 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 30 November 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 02 January 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jan 1883
Page 1 Advertisements Column 8 (Otago Daily Times, 17 January 1883) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Feb 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 19 February 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Feb 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 26 February 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Mar 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 March 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Mar 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 14 March 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Mar 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 17 March 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Apr 1883
News Of The Week. (New Zealand Tablet, 27 April 1883) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 24 May 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jun 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 23 June 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jul 1883
ABSTRACTS AND CHRONICLES. (Observer, 28 July 1883) Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Sept 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 17 September 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 22 October 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Oct 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 25 October 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jan 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 January 1884) 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.

“Cotton On”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch