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.

“The Factory Shop”, the shelf

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

705 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
13 Nov 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 November 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 10 December 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 23 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1887
Untitled (Southland Times, 20 January 1887) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 21 March 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jul 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 06 July 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Jul 1887
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Auckland Star, 07 July 1887) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jul 1887
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 15 July 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Jul 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 28 July 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Aug 1887
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Evening Post, 06 August 1887) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Aug 1887
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 12 August 1887) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Nov 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Nov 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 04 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Nov 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 09 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Nov 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 17 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 24 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Dec 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 07 December 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Dec 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 10 December 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Dec 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 14 December 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jan 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 16 January 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 January 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 February 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Feb 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 09 February 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 18 February 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 14 March 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jun 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 20 June 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1888
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 20 June 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1888
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 18SS. (Otago Daily Times, 13 September 1888) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 15 September 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 September 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1888
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 08 November 1888) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 March 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Apr 1889
Untitled (Auckland Star, 17 April 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Apr 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 20 April 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 16 May 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
17 May 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 17 May 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
8 Jul 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 July 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1889
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 24 October 1889) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1890s
14 Jan 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 14 January 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 May 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 May 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1890
Untitled (Auckland Star, 13 June 1890) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1890
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 November 1890) Star · 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
8 Dec 1890
CHRISTCHURCH. (Colonist, 08 December 1890) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Aug 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 01 August 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Nov 1891
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Evening Post, 09 November 1891) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1892
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 29 March 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1892
Latest Locals. (Star, 18 June 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Jun 1892
Marlborough Express. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 1892. LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 21 June 1892) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jul 1892
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 July 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jul 1892
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 July 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1892
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 03 August 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Dec 1892
Latest Locals. (Star, 08 December 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Dec 1892
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 29 December 1892) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Feb 1893
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 10 February 1893) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1893
North Otago Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, MARCH 6, 1893 (North Otago Times, 06 March 1893) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Mar 1893
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 23 March 1893) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jul 1893
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 July 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jul 1893
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 25 July 1893) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Aug 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 August 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1893
POLITICAL NOTES. (Otago Daily Times, 30 September 1893) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1893
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 19 October 1893) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
26 Jan 1894
Evening Post. FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1894. (Evening Post, 26 January 1894) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Mar 1894
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 10 March 1894) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Mar 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 March 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Mar 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 March 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 29 March 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
31 Mar 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 31 March 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Apr 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 April 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Apr 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 April 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1894
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 12 April 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Apr 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 19 April 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Otago Daily Times, 19 April 1894) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 May 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 08 May 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 May 1894
Marlborough Express. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1894. LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 11 May 1894) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 12 May 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1894
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times, 14 May 1894) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 May 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 31 May 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
4 Jun 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 June 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jul 1894
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 20 July 1894) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Aug 1894
GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING. (Evening Post, 11 August 1894) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Aug 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 22 August 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Aug 1894
N.Z. PARLIAMENT. (Otago Witness, 30 August 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Sept 1894
Local & General. (Star, 21 September 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jan 1895
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 10 January 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Jan 1895
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 January 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1895
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Timaru Herald, 15 February 1895) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1895
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 June 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Aug 1895
CHRISTCHURCH RACES. (BY TELEGRAPH.) Christchurch, August 2. (North Otago Times, 05 August 1895) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Aug 1895
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 10 August 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1896
Untitled (Nelson Evening Mail, 11 February 1896) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1896
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 August 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Sept 1896
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 21 September 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1896
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 26 September 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1896
AKAROA AND WAINUI ROAD BOARD (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 27 October 1896) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1896
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Auckland Star, 08 December 1896) Auckland Star · 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.

“The Factory Shop”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch