How many records does the archive hold?

62,792 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.

“French Blue”, the shelf

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

387 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 1870s
4 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Nov 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Dec 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Auckland Star, 15 January 1879) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Auckland Star, 16 January 1879) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 21 May 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 28 May 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 30 May 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 May 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 31 May 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 02 June 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 03 June 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jun 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 04 June 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1879
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 16 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Sept 1879
Grand Opening Ceremonial. (Auckland Star, 17 September 1879) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
23 Jan 1880
Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1880. (Otago Daily Times, 23 January 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1880
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 24 January 1880) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
18 Jun 1880
SOCIAL AND GENERAL (Otago Daily Times, 18 June 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1880
MELBOURNE EXHIBITION. (Otago Witness, 09 October 1880) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1881
DUNEDIN INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION. (Otago Daily Times, 17 June 1881) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
25 Jan 1882
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 25 January 1882) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Mar 1882
Untitled (Timaru Herald, 20 March 1882) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Apr 1882
THE EXHIBITION. (Star, 11 April 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1882
FURNITURE. (Star, 27 April 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1882
Local & General. (Star, 25 May 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
13 Jan 1883
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 13 January 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 07 March 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1883
RAMBLES ROUND THE WORLD.—VIII. (Auckland Star, 14 April 1883) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1883
Untitled (New Zealand Tablet, 25 May 1883) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1883
Wanganui Herald. (PUBLISHED DAILY). FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1883. THE SPEECH. (Wanganui Herald, 15 June 1883) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jun 1883
News of the Week. (New Zealand Tablet, 22 June 1883) New Zealand Tablet · 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
25 Aug 1883
LOOAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 25 August 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Oct 1883
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 20 October 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Nov 1883
The Akaroa Mail FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1883. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 27 November 1883) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1884
SPORTING. (Otago Daily Times, 02 February 1884) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1884
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 18 October 1884) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1884
News of the Week. (New Zealand Tablet, 24 October 1884) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Mar 1885
The Bruce Herald. " Nemo me impune lacesset." TOKOMAIRIRO, MARCH 20, 1885. (Bruce Herald, 20 March 1885) Bruce Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1885
The Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, MAY 29, 1885. (Otago Daily Times, 29 May 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1885
THE PAY IN THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. (Evening Post, 21 July 1885) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1885
Local & General. (Star, 28 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Feb 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Aug 1886
VITAL STATISTICS. (Evening Post, 20 August 1886) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 01 October 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Dec 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 10 December 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1887
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 07 January 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1887
Local & General. (Star, 25 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1887
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 19 August 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Nov 1887
AUSTRALIA." (Evening Post, 24 November 1887) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1888
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 24 February 1888) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1888
Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1888. "MEASURES, NOT MEN." GOOD ADVICE. Local and General Intelligence. (Tuapeka Times, 26 December 1888) Tuapeka Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1889
Untitled (Auckland Star, 08 April 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1889
MISCELLANEOUS. (Otago Daily Times, 24 September 1889) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
the 1890s
29 May 1890
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 29 May 1890) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1890
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 05 June 1890) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Jul 1890
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 31 July 1890) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1890
THE NEW ZEALANDER AT HOME. (Otago Witness, 04 September 1890) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1890
FERGUSON'S PATENT PIPE. (Otago Daily Times, 03 December 1890) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
5 May 1892
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 05 May 1892) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jun 1892
IN A NUTSHELL. (Otago Witness, 23 June 1892) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1893
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN STATE SCHOOLS. (Auckland Star, 13 January 1893) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Apr 1893
A FLAT CONTRADICTION. (Evening Post, 24 April 1893) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 May 1893
Peninsula News. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 09 May 1893) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Mar 1894
The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1894. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 30 March 1894) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1894
OUR LONDON LETTER. (Otago Witness, 24 May 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Aug 1894
The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1894. (Auckland Star, 17 August 1894) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1896
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 16 March 1896) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1896
The Marlborugh Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1896. LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 27 May 1896) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1897
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 02 June 1897) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Mar 1898
CHRISTCHURCH GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET. (Christchurch Press.) (North Otago Times, 28 March 1898) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1898
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 30 April 1898) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1898
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 10 June 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1898
AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. (Otago Witness, 08 December 1898) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1898
THE EXHIBITION. (Auckland Star, 13 December 1898) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1898
CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. (Otago Witness, 29 December 1898) Otago Witness · 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.

“French Blue”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch