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.

“The Light Site”, the shelf

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

500 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 1900s
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
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
17 Dec 1900
Page 8 Advertisements Column 8 (Evening Post, 17 December 1900) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1900
DE WET ASKS FOR UNACCEPTABLE TERMS. (Otago Witness, 26 December 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Feb 1901
EARLY PROVINCIAL DAYS. (Star, 13 February 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Feb 1901
THE NEW CATHEDRAL, CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 14 February 1901) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
16 Apr 1901
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 April 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jun 1901
THE ROYAL VISIT. (Otago Witness, 12 June 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jun 1901
THE ROYAL VISIT. ENTRY INTO WELLINGTON. (Evening Post, 18 June 1901) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jun 1901
THE NELSON CELEBRATIONS. (Colonist, 29 June 1901) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
28 Aug 1901
BASIC SLAG: WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT ACTS. AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. (Otago Witness, 28 August 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1901
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 07 September 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
23 Oct 1901
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 23 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
16 Nov 1901
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 November 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1901
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 November 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Jan 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 22 January 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Feb 1902
SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES (Otago Witness, 19 February 1902) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 28 February 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 March 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Mar 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 March 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1902
WILD UTTERANCES. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 11 March 1902) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jul 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 22 July 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1902
SUMMARY OF EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN NEWS. (Auckland Star, 02 September 1902) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1902
Page 9 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times 20-9-1902) Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
22 Oct 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 22 October 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 02 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1903
Local and General. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 06 February 1903) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1903
Page 5 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 07 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jul 1903
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 July 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jul 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 18 July 1903) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Aug 1903
The Ensign. GORE: SATURDAY, AUGUST 8. (Mataura Ensign 8-8-1903) Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Sept 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 12 September 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 December 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Dec 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 December 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1904
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Star, 21 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Jan 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 22 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1904
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 26 February 1904) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Mar 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 March 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Mar 1904
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 March 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
19 Apr 1904
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Herald, 19 April 1904) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 22 April 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 12 May 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 May 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jun 1904
THE KENNEL (Otago Witness, 01 June 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1904
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 06 June 1904) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 June 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Jun 1904
Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERT EVENING. GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1904 (Poverty Bay Herald, 22 June 1904) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Jun 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 June 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jul 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 July 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Jul 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 July 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Oct 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 04 October 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Dec 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 10 December 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
18 Jan 1905
Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERT EVENING. GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY. JAN. 18. 1905. (Poverty Bay Herald, 18 January 1905) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Feb 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 04 February 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 February 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Apr 1905
LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 01 April 1905) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1905
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 13 April 1905) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 May 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jun 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 June 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 June 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jun 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 09 June 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1905
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Ashburton Guardian, 13 June 1905) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 June 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jun 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 June 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
28 Jun 1905
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Ashburton Guardian, 28 June 1905) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jul 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 01 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jul 1905
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Ashburton Guardian, 04 July 1905) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jul 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1905
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Ashburton Guardian, 10 July 1905) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jul 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 12 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jul 1905
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Ashburton Guardian, 12 July 1905) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1905
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Ashburton Guardian, 04 August 1905) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Aug 1905
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 18 August 1905) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
21 Aug 1905
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Ashburton Guardian, 21 August 1905) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Aug 1905
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 23 August 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 September 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1905
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Ashburton Guardian, 03 October 1905) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Oct 1905
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Ashburton Guardian, 04 October 1905) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 October 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 October 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Nov 1905
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 November 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Nov 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 18 November 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Dec 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 30 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jan 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 06 January 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jan 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 January 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Feb 1906
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 17 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Mar 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1906
DEFENCE FORCES RIFLE ASSOCIATION, (Otago Witness, 14 March 1906) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1906
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Mar 1906
Untitled (Evening Post, 27 March 1906) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1906
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 03 April 1906) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
21 Jun 1906
THE FINAL SCENE. FUNERAL OF THE LATE PREMIER. (Evening Post, 21 June 1906) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1906
Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, SATURDAY, JULY 14, 1906. (Poverty Bay Herald, 14 July 1906) Poverty Bay Herald · 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 Light Site”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch