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.

“"Opawa"”, the shelf

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

2,125 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 1900s
4 Oct 1902
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 09 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Oct 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Oct 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Oct 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 17 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Oct 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 22 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Oct 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 30 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Nov 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Nov 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 07 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 13 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Nov 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Nov 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Nov 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Nov 1902
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
1 Dec 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 08 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 13 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
13 Dec 1902
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 13 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 15 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 15 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 17 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Dec 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Dec 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 19 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
22 Dec 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 22 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
24 Dec 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 24 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
27 Dec 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
30 Dec 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 30 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Jan 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Jan 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
6 Jan 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Jan 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 07 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 15 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jan 1903
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jan 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1903
PICNICS. (Star, 05 February 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 February 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 February 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
19 Feb 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 19 February 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 February 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1903
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 10 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Mar 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 14 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
16 Mar 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
26 Mar 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 26 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Mar 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Mar 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Apr 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 02 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Apr 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Apr 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 04 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
4 Apr 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Apr 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Apr 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 11 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Apr 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 15 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Apr 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 16 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
16 Apr 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Apr 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 18 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Apr 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 20 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Apr 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 20 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 22 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Apr 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 May 1903
THE SUTER ART CLUB EXHIBITION. (Nelson Evening Mail, 18 May 1903) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 May 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Aug 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 01 August 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Aug 1903
IF YOU WANT A TONIC (Star, 17 August 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1903
CHARGE OF NEGLECTING A CHILD. (Otago Witness, 19 August 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Aug 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 August 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
30 Sept 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 30 September 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Oct 1903
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Oct 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 29 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Oct 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 31 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Nov 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Nov 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 23 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 25 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1903
PUBLIC SCHOOLS SPORTS. (Star, 28 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 December 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 December 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 December 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1904
PUPIL-TEACHERS' EXAMINATION. (Star, 12 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 19 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1904
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Star, 21 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Jan 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 21 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jan 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Jan 1904
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 30 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 February 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1904
OPAWA ROAD. (Star, 12 February 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Feb 1904
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 February 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Mar 1904
BOARD OF EDUCATION. (Star, 23 March 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 16 April 1904) 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.

“"Opawa"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch