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.

“Balls & All”, the shelf

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

385 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
3 Jun 1905
Page 5 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 03 June 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 20 June 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1905
TABLE TALK. (Otago Witness, 08 November 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Dec 1905
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Dec 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Dec 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Dec 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Dec 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Mar 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1906
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 22 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1906
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1906
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 April 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jul 1906
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 07 July 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Aug 1906
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 16 August 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1906
NEWS ITEMS. (Poverty Bay Herald, 10 September 1906) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 September 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Oct 1906
Page 5 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 20 October 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Nov 1906
Untitled (Star, 01 November 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 31 December 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1907
LOCAL AND GENEBAL. (Star, 03 January 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jan 1907
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (West Coast Times, 05 January 1907) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1907
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 February 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Feb 1907
SENIOR GRADE. (Star, 09 February 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Feb 1907
NOTES BY LONG SUP. (Otago Witness, 13 February 1907) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1907
Page 6 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 16 February 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Mar 1907
CRICKET. (Otago Witness, 20 March 1907) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1907
OUR MAIL BAG. (Poverty Bay Herald, 18 May 1907) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Oct 1907
CHRISTCHURCH NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondents.) October 28. (Otago Witness, 30 October 1907) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1907
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 02 November 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1907
CHRISTCHURCH NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) (Otago Witness, 20 November 1907) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1907
Page 5 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 14 December 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1907
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 December 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Jan 1908
CRICKET. (Otago Witness, 22 January 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jan 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 January 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1908
CHRISTCHURCH NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) (Otago Witness, 05 February 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Feb 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1908
CHRISTCHURCH NOTES. (Otago Witness, 26 February 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Apr 1908
CHRISTCHURCH NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) (Otago Witness, 01 April 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 May 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 May 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 May 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 May 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jun 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 June 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jul 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 July 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Jul 1908
THE OTAGO SPORTS DEPOT (Otago Witness, 15 July 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Aug 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 August 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Sept 1908
CRICKET. (Star, 14 September 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1908
EW ZEALAND LADIES' CHAMPIONSHIP (Otago Witness, 14 October 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 24 October 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Oct 1908
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 31 October 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1908
CRICKET. (Evening Post, 02 November 1908) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 11 places
2 Nov 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 02 November 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Nov 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 November 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Nov 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 18 November 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Nov 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 November 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Nov 1908
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 19 November 1908) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 20 November 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Nov 1908
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 November 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 November 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 December 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1908
CRICKET. (Otago Witness, 02 December 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 December 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Dec 1908
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 December 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Dec 1908
CHRISTCHURCH NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) (Otago Witness, 09 December 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Feb 1909
CRICKET. SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. (Evening Post, 01 February 1909) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Feb 1909
CRICKET., (Otago Witness, 03 February 1909) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 27 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1909
CRICKET. (Evening Post, 08 March 1909) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
13 Mar 1909
THIRD GRADE (Star, 13 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1909
10-DAY'S MATCHES. (Star, 13 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Mar 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Mar 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 27 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 29 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Mar 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 31 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Apr 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 13 April 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Apr 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 April 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Apr 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 April 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 May 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 May 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 June 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 18 June 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jul 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 July 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Jul 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 08 July 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Jul 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 July 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jul 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 July 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Jul 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 July 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Jul 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 July 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Jul 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 28 July 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jul 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 30 July 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Jul 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 31 July 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Aug 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 August 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
14 Aug 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 August 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Aug 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 August 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Aug 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 August 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 August 1909) 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.

“Balls & All”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch