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.

“Smith and Smith”, the shelf

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

6,880 records matching 99 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
18 Feb 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 February 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 20 February 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Feb 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 21 February 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 23 February 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1885
Junior University Scholarships. (Star, 26 February 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1885
THE NEW BOYS HIGH SCHOOL. (Otago Daily Times, 27 February 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Mar 1885
SPORTING HEWS. (Otago Witness, 14 March 1885) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1885
PASSING NOTES. (Otago Witness, 14 March 1885) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Mar 1885
St Albans Borough Council. (Star, 17 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Nelson Evening Mail, 21 March 1885) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1885
MAGISTERIAL. (Star, 02 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1885
CHRISTCHURCH FIRE BRIGADE. (Star, 09 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Apr 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1885
City Council. (Star, 21 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Apr 1885
UNITED BANDS DEMONSTRATION. (Star, 24 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Apr 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1885
All Nations Bazaar. (Star, 01 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 May 1885
Local & General. (Star, 06 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1885
ALL NATIONS BAZAAR, CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 08 May 1885) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1885
Latest Locals. (Star, 13 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1885
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Daily Telegraph, 14 May 1885) Daily Telegraph · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 15 May 1885) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 16 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1885
FOOTBALL. (Star, 28 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1885
Drainage Board. (Star, 10 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1885
Sporting Intelligence. (Star, 11 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1885
Untitled (Grey River Argus, 11 June 1885) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times, 13 June 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1885
AUSTRALIAN NEWS. (Timaru Herald, 18 June 1885) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 30 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jul 1885
Government Scholarships. (Star, 03 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1885
Local and General. (Star, 04 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jul 1885
Local & General (Star, 06 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jul 1885
School Committees. (Star, 07 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jul 1885
FOOTBALL. (Star, 09 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jul 1885
POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH RETURNS. (Evening Post, 17 July 1885) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1885
THE PAY IN THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. (Evening Post, 21 July 1885) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1885
FORMER EXHIBITIONS. THE NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION OF 1865. (Evening Post, 03 August 1885) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
17 Aug 1885
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Poverty Bay Herald, 17 August 1885) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1885
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 25 August 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1885
FOOTBALL. (Evening Post, 28 August 1885) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1885
Untitled (Timaru Herald, 04 September 1885) Timaru Herald · 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
24 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 24 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Sept 1885
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 29 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1885
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 30 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 08 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
17 Oct 1885
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 17 October 1885) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 24 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1885
Latest Locals. (Star, 28 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
25 Nov 1885
Drainage Board. (Star, 25 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1885
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 26 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1885
OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SHOW. (Otago Daily Times, 26 November 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1885
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 04 December 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1885
CRICKET. (Star, 10 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
30 Dec 1885
THE DEAD HAND MYSTERY. (Taranaki Herald, 30 December 1885) Taranaki Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jan 1886
40 ton Steam Travelling Crane Ernest Smith, photographs and papers · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
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
9 Jan 1886
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Grey River Argus, 09 January 1886) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1886
CHRISTCHURCH. (North Otago Times, 13 January 1886) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1886
Pupil Teachers' Examination. (Star, 15 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1886
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 15 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1886
THE SEVERED HAND. (Timaru Herald, 27 January 1886) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Feb 1886
Page 16 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Witness, 06 February 1886) Otago Witness · 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
12 Feb 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Feb 1886
THE Marlborough Express. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. (Marlborough Express, 23 February 1886) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1886
D.J.O. AUTUMN MEETING. CUP DAY. WINNERS OF CHAMPAGNE STAKES. PEDIGREEE OP THE WINNER. (Otago Witness, 27 February 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Mar 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Grey River Argus, 04 March 1886) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Grey River Argus, 06 March 1886) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Bruce Herald, 09 March 1886) Bruce Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Grey River Argus, 10 March 1886) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Grey River Argus, 11 March 1886) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Mar 1886
EXPRESS TRAIN PASSENGER LIST. (Star, 17 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Apr 1886
The Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1886. (Otago Daily Times, 10 April 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
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
24 Apr 1886
THE TROOPS. (North Otago Times, 24 April 1886) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1886
SCHOOL COMMITTEES. (Star, 28 April 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 May 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1886
The Daily Telegraph. SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1886. (Daily Telegraph, 15 May 1886) Daily Telegraph · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 18 May 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1886
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 10 July 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 16 July 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jul 1886
The Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, JULY 16, 1886. (Otago Daily Times, 16 July 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 24 July 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Jul 1886
FOOTBALL. (Otago Daily Times, 26 July 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jul 1886
CHRISTCHURCH, (Colonist, 28 July 1886) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jul 1886
NOTES BY FORWARD. (Otago Witness, 30 July 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 August 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1886
West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1886. (West Coast Times, 04 August 1886) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Aug 1886
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 06 August 1886) 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.

“Smith and Smith”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch