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.

“J Books”, the shelf

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

1,750 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 1860s
27 Aug 1864
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 27 August 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1864
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 24 December 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 11 March 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1865
News of the Week. [from the daily times.] (Otago Witness, 24 March 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Feb 1866
CLIFTON, GOLDEN BAY. (Colonist, 09 February 1866) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
31 May 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Christchurch, 28th May, 1866. (North Otago Times, 31 May 1866) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1866
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Wellington Independent, 02 June 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1866
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 16 June 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Sept 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 22 September 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Nov 1866
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Grey River Argus, 01 November 1866) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1867
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 06 April 1867) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1867
HAWKE'S BAY PROVINCE. (Daily Southern Cross, 29 May 1867) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Jun 1867
PORT OF AUCKLAND. (Daily Southern Cross, 24 June 1867) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jun 1867
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 29 June 1867) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1867
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 02 August 1867) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Aug 1867
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 09 August 1867) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1868
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 16 June 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Oct 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 26 October 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1868
Local and General. (Star, 03 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Feb 1869
THE Otago Daily Times. DUNEDIN, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17. (Otago Daily Times, 17 February 1869) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Mar 1869
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 27 March 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1869
Local and General. (Star, 06 April 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1869
Local and General. (Star, 14 April 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 May 1869
Local and General. (Star, 24 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1870s
12 Jan 1870
GERALDINE ROAD BOARD. (Timaru Herald, 12 January 1870) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 February 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Jul 1870
Latest and General. (Star, 30 July 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1870
Local and General. (Star, 03 September 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Sept 1870
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 27 September 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Sept 1870
Local and General. (Star, 29 September 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Dec 1870
Local and General. (Star, 15 December 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Feb 1871
Local and General. (Star, 09 February 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1871
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 15 February 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Apr 1871
Untitled (Otago Daily Times, 10 April 1871) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
15 Apr 1871
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 15 April 1871) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 April 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Aug 1871
RAILWAY MANAGEMENT. (Star, 11 August 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Nov 1871
BOARD OF EDUCATION. (Star, 21 November 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1871
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 30 November 1871) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jan 1872
Local and General. (Star, 11 January 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1872
NEW ZEALAND.-GENERAL NEWS. (Colonist, 16 February 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Mar 1872
Local and General. (Star, 20 March 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 May 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 May 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 May 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1872
Local and General. (Star, 17 July 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 24 September 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Sept 1872
VANDALISM AT THE TERRACES IN THE LAKE DISTRICT. (Colonist, 27 September 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1873
Local and General News. (Marlborough Express, 29 March 1873) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Apr 1873
Local and General. (Star, 18 April 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 May 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 03 May 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1873
Local and General. (Star, 05 May 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1873
Provincial Council. (Star, 14 May 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Jun 1873
THE Otago Daily Times. THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 1873. (Otago Daily Times, 26 June 1873) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Jul 1873
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Timaru Herald, 02 July 1873) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jul 1873
GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. (Tuapeka Times, 10 July 1873) Tuapeka Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Aug 1873
Local and General News. (Marlborough Express, 13 August 1873) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1873
SOCIAL. (Otago Daily Times, 02 September 1873) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1873
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 29 September 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1873
Untitled (Bruce Herald, 17 October 1873) Bruce Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Dec 1873
EAST CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL COMMITTEE. (Star, 11 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1874
THE WESLEYAN HOME MISSIONS. (Star, 30 January 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Feb 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 21 February 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Feb 1874
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Colonist, 21 February 1874) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Mar 1874
THE BELFAST MEAT FACTORY. (Star, 20 March 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Mar 1874
EAST CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 26 March 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 30 March 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1874
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 July 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Timaru Herald, 25 September 1874) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Oct 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 17 October 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1874
DIOCESAN SYNOD. (Star, 21 October 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Oct 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 21 October 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 24 October 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 10 December 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1874
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 14 December 1874) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Dec 1874
THE Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1874. (Otago Daily Times, 19 December 1874) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 26 December 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 29 December 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jan 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 16 January 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jan 1875
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 20 January 1875) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1875
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 05 February 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Mar 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 15 March 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1875
LYTTELTON BOROUGH COUNCIL. (Star, 08 April 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
22 Apr 1875
THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1875. (Evening Post, 22 April 1875) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 May 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 06 May 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1875
THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1875. (Evening Post, 22 May 1875) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Aug 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 07 August 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
24 Aug 1875
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Nelson Evening Mail, 24 August 1875) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 09 September 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 November 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Nov 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 10 November 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1875
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 15 November 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1875
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 03 December 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
5 Apr 1876
LATEST TELEGRAMS. (Timaru Herald, 05 April 1876) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Apr 1876
Untitled (Auckland Star, 10 April 1876) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1876
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 05 June 1876) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jun 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 09 June 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1876
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Timaru Herald, 02 September 1876) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1876
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Timaru Herald, 04 September 1876) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Nov 1876
Untitled (Auckland Star, 17 November 1876) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1876
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times, 29 November 1876) Otago Daily Times · 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.

“J Books”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch