How many records does the archive hold?

71,563 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 George”, the shelf

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

7,448 records matching 98 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 1870s
19 Jun 1871
CANTERBURY RAILWAYS. (Star, 19 June 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jul 1871
BOARD OF EDUCATION. (Star, 03 July 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Aug 1871
NEW ZEALAND. (Colonist, 04 August 1871) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 14 August 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Aug 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 29 August 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1871
BIRTH. (Otago Daily Times, 31 August 1871) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Sept 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 07 September 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Sept 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 21 September 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 25 September 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Oct 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 05 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Oct 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 12 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Oct 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 26 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 November 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 16 November 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Nov 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 17 November 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 November 1871) Star · 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
4 Dec 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 04 December 1871) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1871
Untitled (Grey River Argus, 13 December 1871) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1872
Token - 1 Penny, Union Bakery Co, Christchurch, New Zealand, circa 1872 by Stokes & Martin · Museums Victoria · no. 71577 · Museums Victoria
1 Jan 1872
Token - 1 Penny, Union Bakery Co, Christchurch, New Zealand, circa 1872 by Stokes & Martin · Museums Victoria · no. 70928 · Museums Victoria
9 Jan 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 09 January 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1872
Local and General. (Star, 11 January 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jan 1872
MARRIED. (Timaru Herald, 17 January 1872) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1872
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Southland Times, 19 January 1872) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1872
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Southland Times, 23 January 1872) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1872
Local and General. (Star, 24 January 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jan 1872
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Southland Times, 26 January 1872) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1872
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Southland Times, 30 January 1872) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1872
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Southland Times, 02 February 1872) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1872
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Wellington Independent, 05 February 1872) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 February 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1872
NEW ZEALAND.-GENERAL NEWS. (Colonist, 16 February 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Feb 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 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
7 Mar 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 07 March 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1872
NEWS OF THE DAY (Colonist, 08 March 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1872
NEWS OF THE DAY (Colonist, 12 March 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1872
Untitled (Grey River Argus, 16 March 1872) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 21 March 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1872
Untitled (Grey River Argus, 30 March 1872) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1872
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Southland Times, 09 April 1872) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1872
I SOUTHERN NEWS. I (CLIPPED FROM PAPERS BY THE 'PHOEBE.') (Daily Southern Cross, 19 April 1872) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1872
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CANTERBURY MUSEUM. (Star, 22 April 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 May 1872
EVENTS OF THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 04 May 1872) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 May 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 06 May 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 May 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 10 May 1872) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 May 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1872
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 17 June 1872) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jun 1872
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 19 June 1872) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jun 1872
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 21 June 1872) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jun 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 27 June 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1872
Local and General. (Star, 04 July 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Jul 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 09 July 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jul 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 12 July 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1872
Local and General. (Star, 17 July 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jul 1872
Local and General. (Star, 20 July 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1872
COURTENAY PLOUGHING MATCH. (Star, 03 August 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1872
Telegrams. (Otago Witness, 03 August 1872) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1872
COLONIAL TOPICS. (Colonist, 28 August 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1872
CHAMPION PLOUGHING MATCH. (Star, 09 September 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Sept 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 27 September 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Sept 1872
VANDALISM AT THE TERRACES IN THE LAKE DISTRICT. (Colonist, 27 September 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 October 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1872
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 16 October 1872) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Timaru Herald, 18 October 1872) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 23 October 1872) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1872
Local and General. (Star, 02 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Nov 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 04 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Nov 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 07 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Nov 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 14 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Nov 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 25 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1872
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. (Star, 26 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Dec 1872
Telegrams. (Otago Witness, 07 December 1872) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Dec 1872
News of the Week, (Otago Witness, 07 December 1872) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1872
Untitled (Wellington Independent, 13 December 1872) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1872
Local and General. (Star, 26 December 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jan 1873
CHRISTCHURCH. (Auckland Star, 03 January 1873) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1873
NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITS FOR VIENNA. (Timaru Herald, 08 January 1873) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 11 January 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1873
NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITS FOR VIENNA. (Timaru Herald, 13 January 1873) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1873
THE Daily Southern Cross. (Daily Southern Cross, 18 February 1873) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Mar 1873
MAGISTERIAL (Star, 03 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Mar 1873
MAGISTERIAL. (Star, 20 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1873
Local and General News. (Marlborough Express, 29 March 1873) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Mar 1873
THE Otago Daily Times. MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1873. (Otago Daily Times, 31 March 1873) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Apr 1873
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Nelson Evening Mail, 07 April 1873) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Apr 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 April 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Apr 1873
Local and General. (Star, 18 April 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Apr 1873
Local and General. (Star, 25 April 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1873
Locan and General. (Star, 28 April 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Apr 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Colonist, 29 April 1873) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 May 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 03 May 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 May 1873
MAGISTERIAL. (Star, 06 May 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1873
Wellington Independent TUESDAY, 10th JUNE. (Wellington Independent, 10 June 1873) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place

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 George”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch