How many records does the archive hold?

70,536 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.

“J Books”, the shelf

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

2,223 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 1890s
10 Apr 1893
THE OTAGO UNIVERSITY. (Otago Daily Times, 10 April 1893) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Apr 1893
THE OTAGO UNIVERSITY. (Otago Witness, 13 April 1893) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Apr 1893
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 28 April 1893) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 May 1893
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 01 May 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
19 May 1893
PROFESSOR ALDIS AND THE AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE COUNCIL. (Auckland Star, 19 May 1893) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1893
Local & General. (Star, 23 May 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 May 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 24 May 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jun 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 03 June 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1893
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Wanganui Chronicle, 10 June 1893) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jun 1893
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Ellesmere Guardian, 14 June 1893) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1893
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Wanganui Chronicle, 20 June 1893) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jun 1893
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Wanganui Chronicle, 27 June 1893) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jul 1893
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Wanganui Chronicle, 05 July 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
11 Jul 1893
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 July 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jul 1893
Local & General. (Star, 11 July 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1893
Local & GeneraL (Star, 18 July 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Aug 1893
Local & General. (Star, 21 August 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Sept 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 September 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Sept 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 September 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1893
Local & General. (Star, 26 September 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1893
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 29 September 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
10 Oct 1893
Local & General. (Star, 10 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
11 Oct 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1893
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Oct 1893
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 19 October 1893) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
13 Dec 1893
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS (West Coast Times, 13 December 1893) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1893
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1893. (Evening Post, 29 December 1893) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Jan 1894
MAGISTERIAL. CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 January 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Ellesmere Guardian, 27 January 1894) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Feb 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Ashburton Guardian, 13 February 1894) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Feb 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Ashburton Guardian, 14 February 1894) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Feb 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Ashburton Guardian, 15 February 1894) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Feb 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 17 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Feb 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Ashburton Guardian, 21 February 1894) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Feb 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Ashburton Guardian, 22 February 1894) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Feb 1894
Local & General. (Star, 24 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
10 Mar 1894
Local & General. (Star, 10 March 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Mar 1894
LOOAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 15 March 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1894
Woolston Borough Council. (Star, 02 April 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1894
Local & General. (Star, 05 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
17 Apr 1894
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times, 17 April 1894) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1894
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 25 April 1894) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
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
21 Jun 1894
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 21 June 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jun 1894
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Oxford Observer, 23 June 1894) Oxford Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jun 1894
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Oxford Observer, 30 June 1894) Oxford Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1894
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 19 July 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jul 1894
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 19 July 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
26 Jul 1894
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 26 July 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Aug 1894
GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING. (Evening Post, 11 August 1894) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Aug 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 August 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1894
N.Z. PARLIAMENT. (Otago Witness, 30 August 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1894
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 30 August 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1894
POST OFFICE NOTICES. (Otago Daily Times, 19 October 1894) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 November 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1894
Untitled (Auckland Star, 30 November 1894) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1894
The Marlborough Express. published every evening. Tuesday, December 4, 1894. LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 04 December 1894) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1894
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 17 December 1894) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1894
Local & General. (Star, 22 December 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Dec 1894
Evening Post. MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1894. 1894. (Evening Post, 31 December 1894) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jan 1895
THE TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB. (Observer, 12 January 1895) Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
15 Feb 1895
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Timaru Herald, 15 February 1895) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1895
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Timaru Herald, 25 February 1895) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Mar 1895
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 04 March 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1895
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 March 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Apr 1895
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 11 April 1895) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1895
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Timaru Herald, 22 April 1895) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Apr 1895
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 23 April 1895) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Apr 1895
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Timaru Herald, 24 April 1895) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1895
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Timaru Herald, 25 April 1895) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1895
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 26 April 1895) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 May 1895
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Timaru Herald, 09 May 1895) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 May 1895
Local & CTeneraL (Star, 13 May 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 May 1895
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 May 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
7 Jun 1895
PIGEON BAY. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 07 June 1895) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1895
TOWN & COUNTRY. (Timaru Herald, 25 June 1895) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1895
Page 1 Advertisements Column 8 (Hawke's Bay Herald, 04 July 1895) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Aug 1895
SUPREME COURT. (Star, 14 August 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Aug 1895
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 30 August 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Sept 1895
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 September 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1895
THE INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION. (Star, 03 October 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Oct 1895
Untitled (Hawke's Bay Herald, 10 October 1895) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
13 Nov 1895
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 November 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1895
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Wanganui Chronicle, 03 December 1895) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Dec 1895
PRIZE DISTRIBUTIONS. (Star, 20 December 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1896
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 14 January 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1896
THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1896. (Otago Daily Times, 21 January 1896) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Jan 1896
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 22 January 1896) Star · 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
15 Feb 1896
POLITICAL NOTES. (Tuapeka Times, 15 February 1896) Tuapeka Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1896
CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 06 March 1896) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Mar 1896
CABLED TOPICS. (Evening Post, 17 March 1896) Evening Post · 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.

“J Books”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch