How many records does the archive hold?

80,797 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.

“On The Low”, the shelf

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

5,472 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
21 Aug 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 21 August 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 27 August 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 August 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 31 August 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1885
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Timaru Herald, 05 September 1885) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 09 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1885
Local & General. (Star, 11 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 22 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
24 Sept 1885
Local & General. (Star, 24 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Oct 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 05 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 06 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 07 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 09 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Oct 1885
The Otago Daily Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1885. (Otago Daily Times, 13 October 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 27 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 30 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 07 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Nov 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1885
Local & General. (Star, 16 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Nov 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Nov 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 20 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Nov 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Nov 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 02 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 04 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 14 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Dec 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1885
published daily.) MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1885, THE RIVALS. (Wanganui Herald, 21 December 1885) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 24 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 12 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Jan 1886
Pupil Teachers' Examination. (Star, 15 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 15 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1886
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wanganui Herald, 18 January 1886) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jan 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 20 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jan 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Feb 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Feb 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Feb 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 04 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Feb 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 10 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Feb 1886
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 11 February 1886) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 12 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1886
Ordinary Meeting. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 16 February 1886) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Feb 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1886
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 18 February 1886) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 01 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Mar 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 05 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 09 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 11 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1886
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 11 March 1886) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1886
Country Hotel Accommodation. (Te Aroha News, 13 March 1886) Te Aroha News · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Timaru Herald, 09 April 1886) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 12 April 1886) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1886
THE OTOGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1886. (Otago Daily Times, 14 April 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places

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.

“On The Low”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch