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.

“North Road Fish”, the shelf

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

597 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
4 Nov 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 04 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Nov 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 17 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 24 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 10 December 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Feb 1888
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 24 February 1888) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Apr 1888
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 18 April 1888) Otago Daily Times · 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
5 Apr 1889
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 April 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 May 1889
Local & General. (Star, 04 May 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1889
Latest Locals. (Star, 10 September 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1889
The Dunedin Exhibition. (Auckland Star, 25 November 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Nov 1889
IN AND ABOUT CHRISTCHURCH. THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS. (Te Aroha News, 27 November 1889) Te Aroha News · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Dec 1889
A TRIP TO THE EXHIBITION (Poverty Bay Herald, 09 December 1889) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1890s
25 Sept 1890
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 25 September 1890) Otago Witness · 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
6 Dec 1890
THE ELECTIONS. (Wanganui Chronicle, 06 December 1890) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Dec 1890
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Feilding Star, 09 December 1890) Feilding Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1890
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Ashburton Guardian, 15 December 1890) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1891
Local & General. (Star, 25 May 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jun 1891
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 June 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1892
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 10 March 1892) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jul 1892
FOOTBALL. (Otago Daily Times, 22 July 1892) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1892
Local & General. (Star, 02 November 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1892
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 15 December 1892) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
30 Jan 1893
Local & General. (Star, 30 January 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1893
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 16 March 1893) Otago Witness · 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
23 May 1893
Local & General. (Star, 23 May 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jul 1893
ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. (Auckland Star, 11 July 1893) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Feb 1894
Local is General. (Star, 02 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1894
Local & General, (Star, 12 April 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1894
AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. (Otago Witness, 12 April 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1894
Evening Post. MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1894 THE EX-SPEAKER. (Evening Post, 25 June 1894) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Aug 1894
NZ. PARLIAMENT. (Otago Witness, 23 August 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1894
N.Z. PARLIAMENT. (Otago Witness, 30 August 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1894
Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. (Poverty Bay Herald, 16 October 1894) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jan 1895
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 22 January 1895) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1895
West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1895. (West Coast Times, 27 March 1895) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1895
TOWN & COUNTRY. (Timaru Herald, 10 May 1895) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1895
THE FUNERAL OF THE LATE BISHOP MORAN. (Otago Daily Times, 30 May 1895) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1895
DEATH OF BISHOP MORAN. (Otago Daily Times, 11 June 1895) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1896
THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1896. (Otago Daily Times, 21 January 1896) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 May 1896
The Marlborugh Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1896. LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 27 May 1896) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Aug 1896
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 06 August 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1896
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 25 August 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1896
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Ashburton Guardian, 09 September 1896) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1896
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 26 September 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1896
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 28 October 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1897
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 18 February 1897) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1897
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 March 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1897
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 05 April 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1897
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 27 May 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Jul 1897
CANTERBURY DOINGS. (Otago Witness, 15 July 1897) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Jul 1897
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 July 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Aug 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 13 August 1897) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 6 places
10 Sept 1897
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 10 September 1897) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Sept 1897
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 20 September 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1897
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS. (Otago Daily Times, 28 September 1897) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Oct 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 12 October 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1897
The Timaru Herald. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1897. TOWN & COUNTRY. (Timaru Herald, 26 November 1897) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jan 1898
TOWN & COUNTRY. (Timaru Herald, 11 January 1898) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Mar 1898
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 March 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1898
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Auckland Star, 12 September 1898) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Oct 1898
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 12 October 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Dec 1898
CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. (Otago Witness, 29 December 1898) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jun 1899
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 16 June 1899) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1899
THE TOLL OF THE SEA, (Otago Witness, 30 November 1899) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
the 1900s
2 May 1900
THE Grey River Argus (Grey River Argus, 02 May 1900) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Oct 1900
TOWN & COUNTRY. (Timaru Herald, 05 October 1900) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Oct 1900
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 31 October 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1900
Local and General (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 20 November 1900) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Dec 1900
Untitled (Otago Witness, 05 December 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Dec 1900
COUNTRY NEWS. (Otago Daily Times, 07 December 1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jan 1901
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 16 January 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1901
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 23 January 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jul 1901
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 July 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Aug 1901
Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERT EVENING. GISBORNE SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1901 (Poverty Bay Herald, 10 August 1901) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Oct 1901
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Otago Daily Times 30-10-1901) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1901
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 05 December 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Dec 1901
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 07 December 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1902
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 18 June 1902) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Aug 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 August 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Aug 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 29 August 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
13 Sept 1902
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 September 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Nov 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1902
Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE. MONDAY, DEC. 1, 1902. PROGRESS. (Poverty Bay Herald, 01 December 1902) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jan 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 20 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1903
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 25 February 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1903
SPORT AND PASTIME. (Evening Post, 14 March 1903) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Mar 1903
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. Motto:—We write.for the benefit of others, not for ourselves. (Otago Witness, 18 March 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Mar 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 26 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Mar 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Mar 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Apr 1903
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1903
LAND AND WATER. (Otago Witness, 22 April 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
13 Jun 1903
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 June 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jul 1903
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK (Otago Witness, 01 July 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place

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.

“North Road Fish”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch