How many records does the archive hold?

72,593 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.

“"Cathedral Square"”, the shelf

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

3,529 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 Jan 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 January 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jan 1902
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 04 January 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jan 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 06 January 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 08 January 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jan 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 10 January 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
11 Jan 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 January 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 January 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 15 January 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jan 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 17 January 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 January 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
25 Jan 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 January 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
1 Feb 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 01 February 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Feb 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 05 February 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
6 Feb 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 February 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Feb 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 February 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Feb 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 14 February 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Feb 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 February 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Feb 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 19 February 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Feb 1902
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 22 February 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 26 February 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 28 February 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 March 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Mar 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 03 March 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Mar 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 March 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Mar 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 March 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 March 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 March 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Mar 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 12 March 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Mar 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 March 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Mar 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 26 March 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Apr 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 April 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 17 April 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Apr 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 April 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 April 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Apr 1902
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 April 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1902
THROUGH THE CITY. (Star, 19 April 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 May 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 May 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
7 May 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 May 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 14 May 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 May 1902
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 May 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 May 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 29 May 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jun 1902
CHRISTCHURCH. (Auckland Star, 03 June 1902) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 June 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 June 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 10 June 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jun 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 June 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jun 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 June 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 June 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Jun 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 June 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Jul 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 July 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jul 1902
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 July 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jul 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 July 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jul 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 July 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 16 July 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jul 1902
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 19 July 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 July 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jul 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 22 July 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Aug 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 01 August 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Aug 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 August 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Aug 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 August 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Aug 1902
THE CORONATION. (Star, 06 August 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Aug 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 August 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Aug 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 August 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 19 August 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Aug 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 August 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Aug 1902
PERSONAL ITEMS. (Otago Witness, 20 August 1902) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 August 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 September 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 11 September 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 September 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 September 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Sept 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 September 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Sept 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 30 September 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 09 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
24 Oct 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Oct 1902
CHRISTCHURCH. (Auckland Star, 28 October 1902) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
3 Nov 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Nov 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
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 5 (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 2 (Star, 11 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Nov 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 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
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
18 Nov 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 18 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Nov 1902
NOTES. (Star, 19 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Nov 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Nov 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 22 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
9 Dec 1902
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 09 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
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

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.

“"Cathedral Square"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch