How many records does the archive hold?

63,896 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.

“Cotton On”, the shelf

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

518 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
7 Jan 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Jan 1884
Local & General. (Star, 25 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Feb 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 14 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Apr 1884
Sporting Intelligence. (Star, 10 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Apr 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 29 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1884
CHRISTURCH. (Star, 12 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1884
FOOTBALL. (Star, 15 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Jul 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 26 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1884
Local & General (Star, 23 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Oct 1884
Latest Locals. (Star, 11 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Oct 1884
TIMARU AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL SHOW. (Timaru Herald, 30 October 1884) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1884
TIMARU AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL SHOW. (Timaru Herald, 06 November 1884) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 08 November 1884) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1884
February (Star, 31 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jan 1885
The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 1885. (Daily Telegraph, 12 January 1885) Daily Telegraph · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 15 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 16 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jan 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 29 January 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 February 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Mar 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 03 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Mar 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Mar 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Mar 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 10 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Mar 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 12 March 1885) Star · 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
16 Mar 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Mar 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jun 1885
Sporting Intelligence. (Star, 11 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Jul 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 25 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1885
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 17 October 1885) Otago Witness · 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
18 Mar 1886
THE FETE IN THE DOMAIN. (Auckland Star, 18 March 1886) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1886
TURF GOSSIP. (Auckland Star, 08 May 1886) Auckland 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
12 Aug 1886
CHRISTCHURCH STEEPLECHASES. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Christchurch,Wednesday. (Waikato Times, 12 August 1886) Waikato Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Aug 1886
VITAL STATISTICS. (Evening Post, 20 August 1886) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Aug 1886
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM. (Evening Post, 24 August 1886) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Aug 1886
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL. (Evening Post, 26 August 1886) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 27 August 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Nov 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 November 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1887
Latest Locals. (Star, 02 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1887
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 08 February 1887) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1887
NOTES BY BEACON. (Otago Witness, 11 February 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Feb 1887
Latest Locals. (Star, 15 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1887
Local & General. (Star, 26 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Mar 1887
CHURCH PARADE. (Star, 28 March 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Apr 1887
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 01 April 1887) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1887
OUR CANTERBURY SPORTING LETTER. (Otago Witness, 22 April 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 May 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 09 May 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 May 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 17 May 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 May 1887
Local & General. (Star, 17 May 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1887
FOOTBALL. (Star, 04 August 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1887
SPORTING NEWS. (Otago Witness, 23 September 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Oct 1887
NOTES BY BEACON. (Otago Witness, 21 October 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1887
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 11 November 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Dec 1887
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 28 December 1887) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jul 1888
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 13 July 1888) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Aug 1888
FOOTBALL. (Star, 16 August 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1889
Untitled (Daily Telegraph, 24 January 1889) Daily Telegraph · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1889
Local & General. (Star, 24 May 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jul 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 July 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1889
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 October 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1890s
14 Jan 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 14 January 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1890
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 12 May 1890) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1890
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 29 May 1890) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1890
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 05 June 1890) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Jul 1890
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 31 July 1890) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1890
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS. (Otago Daily Times, 03 September 1890) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1891
Local & General. (Star, 13 March 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1891
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 19 March 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 May 1891
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 05 May 1891) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1891
FOOTBALL. (Star, 25 June 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jun 1892
IN A NUTSHELL. (Otago Witness, 23 June 1892) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1892
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 July 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1892
THE GENERAL ELECTION. (Otago Witness, 14 July 1892) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jan 1893
A "CLEAN " COLONY. (Evening Post, 06 January 1893) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1893
Local & General. (Star, 30 January 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 May 1893
Football. (Star, 26 May 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1893
FOOTBALL. (Star, 15 June 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1893
Local & General. (Star, 14 August 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1894
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1895
OTHER MATCHES. (Star, 10 May 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1895
Football. (Star, 07 June 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1895
OTAGO A: AND P. SOCIETY'S SHOW. (Otago Witness, 05 December 1895) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Feb 1896
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 14 February 1896) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 May 1896
FOOTBALL. (Star, 01 May 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1896
THE "HAURAKI" ECLIPSED. (Star, 08 May 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1896
AN UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRANT. (Otago Daily Times, 12 May 1896) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1896
FOOTBALL. (Star, 15 May 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jun 1896
THURSDAY FLAG MATCHES. (Star, 12 June 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1896
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 24 July 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1897
TOWN & COUNTRY. (Timaru Herald, 27 January 1897) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1897
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 11 February 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Feb 1897
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 February 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1897
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 March 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Apr 1897
FOOTBALL. (Star, 23 April 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1897
FOOTBALL. (Star, 07 May 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jun 1897
OUR LONDON LETTER. (From Our Own Correspondent.) (Otago Witness, 24 June 1897) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1897
LADIES' GOLF TOURNAMENT. (Otago Witness, 02 September 1897) Otago Witness · 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.

“Cotton On”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch