How many records does the archive hold?

60,434 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.

“First Security”, the shelf

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

671 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
29 Apr 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1885
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 06 June 1885) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jul 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Oct 1885
The Otago Daily Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1885. (Otago Daily Times, 13 October 1885) Otago Daily Times · 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
21 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 October 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
4 Dec 1885
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 04 December 1885) Otago Daily Times · 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
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
27 Feb 1886
COURSING. OUR TRAINING KENNELS. (Otago Witness, 27 February 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1886
MEETING OF CREDITORS. (Nelson Evening Mail, 08 April 1886) Nelson Evening Mail · 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
10 May 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 May 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jun 1886
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 June 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jul 1886
THE OTOGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1886. (Otago Daily Times, 27 July 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Aug 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times, 12 August 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1886
Alleged Perjury. (Star, 18 September 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1886
THE OTOGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1886. (Otago Daily Times, 27 November 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Dec 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 10 December 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1886
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 14 December 1886) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 22 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 31 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Feb 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Apr 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 01 April 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Apr 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 April 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1887
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 19 April 1887) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1887
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 22 April 1887) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 May 1887
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 06 May 1887) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 27 May 1887) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 03 June 1887) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1887
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 10 June 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jun 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 10 June 1887) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jun 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 14 June 1887) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 17 June 1887) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jun 1887
THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE. (Otago Daily Times, 22 June 1887) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jun 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 28 June 1887) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jul 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 08 July 1887) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jul 1887
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 15 July 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Aug 1887
THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1887. (Otago Daily Times, 10 August 1887) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Aug 1887
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 12 August 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 September 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Oct 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 October 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Oct 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 October 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Nov 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 15 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 19 January 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 7 places
18 Feb 1888
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 February 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 May 1888
Local & General. (Star, 03 May 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1888
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 08 November 1888) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1889
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Auckland Star, 07 January 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1889
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 February 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
23 Jul 1889
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Bruce Herald, 23 July 1889) Bruce Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1889
Untitled (Auckland Star, 24 July 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Aug 1889
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 August 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1889
MISCELLANEOUS. (Otago Daily Times, 24 September 1889) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
26 Nov 1889
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 26 November 1889) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1889
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 29 November 1889) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
the 1890s
13 Jun 1890
Untitled (Auckland Star, 13 June 1890) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Aug 1890
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 15 August 1890) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1890
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 19 August 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1890
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 02 September 1890) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 October 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1890
FERGUSON'S PATENT PIPE. (Otago Daily Times, 03 December 1890) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
16 Jan 1891
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 16 January 1891) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Apr 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 24 April 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Apr 1891
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Marlborough Express, 27 April 1891) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 May 1891
Local & General. (Star, 05 May 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1891
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 21 July 1891) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Nov 1891
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 19 November 1891) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Mar 1892
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 10 March 1892) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1892
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Ashburton Guardian, 02 April 1892) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1892
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 12 April 1892) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Jun 1892
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 June 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jun 1892
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 June 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jul 1892
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 July 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1892
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Ashburton Guardian, 07 September 1892) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Sept 1892
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 29 September 1892) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1892
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 08 November 1892) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Nov 1892
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 14 November 1892) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Nov 1892
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 22 November 1892) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Feb 1893
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 10 February 1893) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Mar 1893
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 23 March 1893) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Apr 1893
A HEAVY FAILURE. (Auckland Star, 04 April 1893) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1893
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 28 April 1893) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Sept 1893
MEETING OF CREDITORS (Star, 07 September 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1893
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 08 November 1893) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1893
Local & General. (Star, 24 November 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1894
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 10 March 1894) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Mar 1894
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 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.

“First Security”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch