How many records does the archive hold?

65,200 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.

“School Office”, the shelf

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

2,627 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 1860s
23 Jan 1861
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 23 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Apr 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 03 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 06 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 06 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Apr 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 May 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 15 May 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jun 1861
Untitled (Hawke's Bay Herald, 08 June 1861) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jul 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jul 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 13 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Oct 1861
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 05 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1861
TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS. (Lyttelton Times, 02 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
25 Jan 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 25 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Feb 1862
M. REUTER. (Otago Daily Times, 05 February 1862) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Mar 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 22 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 29 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1862
TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS. (Lyttelton Times, 05 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
9 Apr 1862
ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH.-CLAIMS TO VOTE-1862. (Lyttelton Times, 09 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1862
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 09 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1862
ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH.—CLAIMS TO VOTE—IB 62. (Lyttelton Times, 12 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
12 Apr 1862
Page 10 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 12 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
30 Apr 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 30 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 03 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 07 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 10 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 May 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 10 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Nov 1863
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 14 November 1863) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1864
News of the week. (Otago Witness, 30 January 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Feb 1864
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 27 February 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1864
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 24 December 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1865
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 28 January 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1865
THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam" DUNEDIN, MONDAY, MARCH 6. (Otago Daily Times, 06 March 1865) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Mar 1865
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] ANOTHER FIRE IN THE OCTAGON. (Otago Witness, 18 March 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1865
News of the Week. [from the daily times.] (Otago Witness, 24 March 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1865
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 11 November 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Mar 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 23 March 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1866
WEDNESDAY, APRIL, 25 (Daily Southern Cross, 25 April 1866) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Sept 1866
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Grey River Argus, 22 September 1866) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jan 1867
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Grey River Argus, 10 January 1867) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1867
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Wellington Independent, 21 March 1867) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1867
HAWKE'S BAY PROVINCE. (Daily Southern Cross, 29 May 1867) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Jun 1867
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 29 June 1867) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1867
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 19 July 1867) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Sept 1867
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 14 September 1867) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1867
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 15 November 1867) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Feb 1868
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Timaru Herald, 01 February 1868) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Apr 1868
BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH (Timaru Herald, 29 April 1868) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 May 1868
LOCAL NEWS OF THE MONTH. (Timaru Herald, 02 May 1868) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 May 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Timaru Herald, 23 May 1868) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jun 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Otago Daily Times, 03 June 1868) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Sept 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 September 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 November 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jan 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jan 1869
Local and General. (Star, 05 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 13 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 January 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1869
NELSON REGATTA. (Colonist, 12 February 1869) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
17 Feb 1869
THE Otago Daily Times. DUNEDIN, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17. (Otago Daily Times, 17 February 1869) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Mar 1869
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 March 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1869
Local and General. (Star, 06 April 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1869
Local and General. (Star, 08 April 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jun 1869
The Evening Post. MONDAY, JUNE 28, 1869. (Evening Post, 28 June 1869) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1869
Local and General. (Star, 23 July 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 19 October 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1869
The Daily Southern Cross. (Daily Southern Cross, 25 October 1869) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1869
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 November 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 15 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
6 Jan 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 January 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1870
Local and General. (Star, 13 January 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 February 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Mar 1870
Untitled (Otago Daily Times, 15 March 1870) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1870
NEW ZEALAND INTELLIGENCE. (Colonist, 29 March 1870) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Apr 1870
Local and General. (Star, 26 April 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
21 Jun 1870
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 June 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jun 1870
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 June 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1870
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Grey River Argus, 19 July 1870) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Sept 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 September 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Sept 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 28 September 1870) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Sept 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 September 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Sept 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 September 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Dec 1870
West Post Times. AND WESTLAND OBSERVER. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15. (West Coast Times, 15 December 1870) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
3 Apr 1871
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 April 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Apr 1871
Untitled (Otago Daily Times, 10 April 1871) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
15 Apr 1871
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 15 April 1871) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1871
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 April 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1871
HEATHCOTE. (Star, 21 April 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1871
NEW ZEALAND. (Colonist, 16 May 1871) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1871
NEW ZEALAND GENERAL NEWS. (Colonist, 24 November 1871) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Dec 1871
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (West Coast Times, 22 December 1871) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 December 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 January 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Feb 1872
NEW ZEALAND.-GENERAL NEWS. (Colonist, 16 February 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 February 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1872
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 02 March 1872) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read

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.

“School Office”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch