How many records does the archive hold?

65,200 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.

“"Barbadoes Street"”, the shelf

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

900 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 1880s
29 Nov 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Dec 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 02 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 19 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 20 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
21 Jan 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 21 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jan 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 23 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Jan 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 28 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Feb 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 02 February 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Feb 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 05 February 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 10 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jul 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 25 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jul 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jul 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 July 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
5 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 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
24 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
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
25 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 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
13 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 October 1885) Star · 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
29 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 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
11 Nov 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 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
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
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
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
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 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 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
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
1 Feb 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 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
19 Feb 1886
The Magdalen Asylum. (Star, 19 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1886
THE CARDINAL ARCHBISHOP OP SYDNEY IN CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 26 February 1886) New Zealand Tablet · 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
4 Mar 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (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
18 Sept 1886
The Flooded District, N.E. Ward. (Star, 18 September 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
20 Jul 1887
Christchurch. (Star, 20 July 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Aug 1887
Latest Locals. (Star, 15 August 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1887
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 28 October 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Nov 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1888
Latest Locals. (Star, 02 April 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 20 June 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jul 1888
Local & General. (Star, 13 July 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Mar 1889
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (New Zealand Tablet, 08 March 1889) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1889
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (New Zealand Tablet, 29 March 1889) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1889
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (New Zealand Tablet, 19 April 1889) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Apr 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 20 April 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Aug 1889
Latest Locals. (Star, 24 August 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1889
MARRIAGES. (Star, 02 October 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1890s
15 Feb 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 15 February 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Feb 1890
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 21 February 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Mar 1890
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 18 March 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1890
Latest Locals. (Star, 14 April 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 May 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 31 May 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jul 1890
Latest Locals. (Star, 01 July 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1890
Latest locals. (Star, 17 October 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 24 October 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Dec 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 17 December 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Apr 1891
St Albans Borough Council (Star, 14 April 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1891
Local & General. (Star, 25 June 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Aug 1891
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 10 August 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 03 October 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 29 December 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Feb 1892
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 February 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1892
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 February 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1892
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 25 February 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1892
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 10 June 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jul 1892
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 July 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1893
Untitled (Star, 14 January 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
4 Feb 1893
Commercial. (Star, 04 February 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1893
Untitled (Star, 06 March 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1893
Local & General. (Star, 23 May 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Sept 1893
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 29 September 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Dec 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 December 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1894
Local & General. (Star, 19 January 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1894
Last look at Bishop Harper's grave by New Zealand Graphic · Photographs / He Whakaahua · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
20 Jan 1894
Entering the cemetery by the lych gate by New Zealand Graphic · Photographs / He Whakaahua · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
20 Feb 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 March 1894) 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.

“"Barbadoes Street"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch