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.

“The Light Site”, the shelf

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

500 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
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
13 Jan 1883
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 13 January 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1883
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 24 March 1883) Otago Witness · 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
27 Apr 1883
Evening Post. FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1883. (Evening Post, 27 April 1883) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1883
CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 18 May 1883) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Oct 1883
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 20 October 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Nov 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 22 November 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Jan 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 14 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1884
Board of Health. (Star, 30 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Feb 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1884
VITAL STATISTICS. (Evening Post, 18 July 1884) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
20 Feb 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 20 February 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Apr 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 02 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 May 1885
Local & General. (Star, 06 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1885
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 06 June 1885) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jul 1885
POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH RETURNS. (Evening Post, 17 July 1885) Evening Post · 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
3 Aug 1885
FORMER EXHIBITIONS. THE NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION OF 1865. (Evening Post, 03 August 1885) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
17 Oct 1885
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 17 October 1885) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1885
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 04 December 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jun 1886
THE TREATMENT OF UNCONVICTED PRISONERS. (Evening Post, 12 June 1886) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jul 1886
THE GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL. (Evening Post, 28 July 1886) Evening Post · 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
24 Sept 1886
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS. (New Zealand Tablet, 24 September 1886) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jun 1887
THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE. (Otago Daily Times, 22 June 1887) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jul 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 July 1887) 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
12 Aug 1887
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 12 August 1887) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1887
NOTES BY BEACON. (Otago Witness, 21 October 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1887
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 11 November 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1887
AUSTRALIA." (Evening Post, 24 November 1887) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
18 Feb 1888
THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES (Otago Daily Times, 18 February 1888) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Dec 1888
THE EXHIBITION SITE. (Otago Daily Times, 12 December 1888) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jan 1889
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 04 January 1889) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Mar 1889
NEWS OF THE MONTH. (Auckland Star, 23 March 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Sept 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 September 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1889
IN AND ABOUT CHRISTCHURCH. THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS. (Te Aroha News, 27 November 1889) Te Aroha News · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1890s
28 Feb 1890
Untitled (Auckland Star, 28 February 1890) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
1 Sept 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 01 September 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1891
Untitled (Auckland Star, 27 November 1891) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1892
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 May 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1892
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 20 May 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1892
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 May 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Aug 1892
ARTHUR STREET SCHOOL. (Otago Daily Times, 05 August 1892) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
14 Nov 1892
Local & General. (Star, 14 November 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 07 January 1893) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1893
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 14 January 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Mar 1893
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 23 March 1893) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Mar 1893
Untitled (Hawke's Bay Herald, 25 March 1893) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 May 1893
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Wanganui Chronicle, 09 May 1893) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1893
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Wanganui Chronicle, 13 May 1893) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1893
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 18 May 1893) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jun 1893
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 June 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Jun 1893
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Wanganui Chronicle, 27 June 1893) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jul 1893
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Wanganui Chronicle, 06 July 1893) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jul 1893
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Wanganui Chronicle, 11 July 1893) Wanganui Chronicle · 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
20 Sept 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 September 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1893
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 08 November 1893) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1893
TALK OF THE DAY, (Otago Witness, 16 November 1893) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jan 1894
CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL BOARD. (Star, 22 January 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Mar 1894
THE NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION. (Otago Witness, 08 March 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
12 Apr 1894
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 12 April 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 May 1894
Local & General. (Star, 26 May 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jun 1894
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 21 June 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jul 1894
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 19 July 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
22 Apr 1895
Local & General. (Star, 22 April 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1895
DEATH OF BISHOP MORAN. (Otago Daily Times, 11 June 1895) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1895
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 December 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1896
CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 24 January 1896) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1896
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 06 February 1896) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1896
NOTES OF THE WEEK. (Otago Daily Times, 08 February 1896) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
14 Feb 1896
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 14 February 1896) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Apr 1896
PROHIBITION CONVENTION. (Otago Witness, 09 April 1896) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
26 Nov 1896
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 26 November 1896) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1897
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 March 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1897
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 March 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jun 1897
THE JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS. (Wanganui Chronicle, 22 June 1897) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Jun 1897
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 30 June 1897) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Aug 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 13 August 1897) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 6 places
30 Oct 1897
THE SHOW. (Ashburton Guardian, 30 October 1897) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
2 Dec 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 02 December 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Mar 1898
The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1898. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 25 March 1898) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Apr 1898
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 07 April 1898) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jun 1898
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 20 June 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jun 1898
CYCLING. (Otago Witness, 23 June 1898) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1898
AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 23 September 1898) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1900s
29 Mar 1900
CHRISTCHURCH �� BLENHEIM RAILWAY. (Star, 29 March 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Aug 1900
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 09 August 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Aug 1900
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 August 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1900
AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. (Otago Witness, 30 August 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1900
rUDU3HBI> DAILTi] PATUHDAY. SEPTEMBER 29, 190 H. THE WANG&NUI PQST OFFICE. (Wanganui Herald, 29 September 1900) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
2 Oct 1900
Local and General (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 02 October 1900) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · 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 Light Site”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch