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.

“The Factory Shop”, the shelf

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

705 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 1890s
2 Jan 1897
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 02 January 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1897
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 January 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 18 January 1897) Star · 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
11 Mar 1897
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 March 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1897
TOWN EDITION. The Ensign. GORE: THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1897. DAIRY INDUSTRY. (Mataura Ensign, 13 May 1897) Mataura Ensign · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1897
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 02 June 1897) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jun 1897
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 16 June 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jun 1897
THE ILLUMINATIONS. (Star, 23 June 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
3 Aug 1897
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 August 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
2 Sept 1897
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 September 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1897
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 September 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1897
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 September 1897) Star · 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
29 Sept 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 29 September 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 20 November 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 02 December 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jan 1898
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 10 January 1898) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jan 1898
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 17 January 1898) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jan 1898
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times, 20 January 1898) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Jan 1898
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Colonist, 25 January 1898) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jan 1898
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Ashburton Guardian, 25 January 1898) Ashburton Guardian · 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
31 Mar 1898
Biographical Notes of Settlers of the First Decade. THE OLD IDENTITY. (Otago Witness, 31 March 1898) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1898
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 April 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jun 1898
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 29 June 1898) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jul 1898
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Evening Post, 18 July 1898) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jul 1898
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Evening Post, 19 July 1898) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1898
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Auckland Star, 10 September 1898) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 January 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1899
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 24 January 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1899
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 18 February 1899) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Mar 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Auckland Star, 04 March 1899) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Ashburton Guardian, 22 March 1899) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 17 June 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
5 Aug 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 05 August 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 19 August 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Aug 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 August 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Aug 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 August 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 September 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times, 08 November 1899) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1899
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 11 November 1899) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1899
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 December 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1899
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 December 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1900s
6 Jan 1900
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 06 January 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Jan 1900
Page 12 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times 1-9-1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1900
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 16 January 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1900
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 27 January 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Mar 1900
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 31 March 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Apr 1900
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 April 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Apr 1900
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 April 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1900
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 April 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1900
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Auckland Star, 21 April 1900) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1900
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 May 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jun 1900
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times 21-6-1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jul 1900
Page 12 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times 7-7-1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jul 1900
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times 26-7-1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Aug 1900
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 August 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Aug 1900
Page 12 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times, 18 August 1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1900
Page 12 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times, 25 August 1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1900
TOWN & COUNTRY. (Timaru Herald, 15 September 1900) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1900
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times 29-10-1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Oct 1900
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 31 October 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1900
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 20 November 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1900
Untitled (Otago Witness, 05 December 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Apr 1901
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 20 April 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Oct 1901
MAGISTERIAL. CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 01 October 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1901
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 22 October 1901) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 5 places
24 Oct 1901
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 24 October 1901) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 8 places
25 Oct 1901
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 25 October 1901) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
27 Nov 1901
Page 34 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Witness, 27 November 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Dec 1901
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 20 December 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
21 Dec 1901
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 December 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1901
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 23 December 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1901
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 24 December 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jan 1902
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 January 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jan 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 January 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
19 Apr 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 April 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Apr 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Auckland Star, 29 April 1902) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 May 1902
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 02 May 1902) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jun 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times 6-1-1902) Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
10 Sept 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 September 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Sept 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 17 September 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Sept 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Auckland Star, 29 September 1902) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Oct 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
9 Oct 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 09 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Nov 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
5 Nov 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 05 November 1902) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Nov 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 05 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 13 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Nov 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Nov 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Nov 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 18 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Nov 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Nov 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
18 Dec 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 December 1902) 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.

“The Factory Shop”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch