How many records does the archive hold?

70,536 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 Mud”, the shelf

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

388 records matching 99 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
26 Oct 1904
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 26 October 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
1 Jan 1905
Photograph, Tom and Elizabeth Genge and family NZmuseums · Wyndham & Districts Historical Museum · Wyndham & Districts Historical Museum
16 Jan 1905
Untitled (Manawatu Times, 16 January 1905) Manawatu Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1905
FOOTBALL. (Otago Witness, 24 May 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1905
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 07 June 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jun 1905
TABLE TALK. (Otago Witness, 14 June 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jun 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 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 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 June 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1905
CHRISTCHURCH-SUMNER CANAL. (Star, 18 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1905
THE CHRISTCHURCH DISTURBANCE CHRISTCHURCH. July 14. (Otago Witness, 19 July 1905) Otago Witness · 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
2 Sept 1905
THE START. (Star, 02 September 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Sept 1905
TIMARU TO CHRISTCHURCH ROAD RACE. (Otago Witness, 06 September 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 October 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1905
TALES OF COLONIAL SPORT. (Otago Witness, 25 October 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Oct 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 31 October 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Nov 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 November 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Nov 1905
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 November 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1905
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Dec 1905
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 09 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 January 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Nelson Evening Mail, 28 February 1906) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1906
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 16 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 April 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Apr 1906
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 04 April 1906) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1906
BANDSMEN'S COLUMN. (Star, 14 April 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Apr 1906
NOTES BY AMATEUR. (Otago Witness, 18 April 1906) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 April 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1906
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 April 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 May 1906
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 02 May 1906) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1906
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 18 May 1906) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1906
THE ASSOCIATlON GAME. (Otago Witness, 30 May 1906) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Jul 1906
JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. (Star, 14 July 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jul 1906
OMNIUM GATHERUM. (Otago Witness, 25 July 1906) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Aug 1906
LOCAL & GENERA. (Otago Witness, 15 August 1906) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Aug 1906
THE WEEK. (Star, 18 August 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1906
SOME PICTURE. (Evening Post, 07 September 1906) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Feb 1907
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 09 February 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 26 April 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Apr 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 April 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
30 Apr 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 30 April 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 May 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 May 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1907
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 08 May 1907) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 May 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 May 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 27 May 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 May 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 31 May 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jun 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 03 June 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Jun 1907
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 June 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Jun 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 June 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jun 1907
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 19 June 1907) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jun 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 June 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jul 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 09 July 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jul 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 July 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jul 1907
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 July 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jul 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 July 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jul 1907
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 20 July 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 July 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Jul 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 29 July 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jul 1907
Ashburton Gurdian MAGNA EST VERITAS ET PRÆVALEBIT. TUESDAY, JULY 30, 1907. LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Ashburton Guardian, 30 July 1907) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jul 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 31 July 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 August 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Aug 1907
EMMELINE'S " CQSY CORNER CLUB." (Otago Witness, 07 August 1907) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1907
Untitled (Otago Daily Times 19-8-1907) Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Sept 1907
DIRTY CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 05 September 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1907
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Observer, 07 September 1907) Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Sept 1907
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 11 September 1907) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Nov 1907
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 09 November 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Feb 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 29 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 April 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 May 1908
LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 11 May 1908) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1908
CHBISTCBUBCH NEWS NOTES. (Fsok Our. Own Cobbespondent.) (Otago Witness, 13 May 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Jun 1908
Taranaki Herald. THURSDAY, JUNE 25; 1908. THE STRATFORD-AUCKLAND RAILWAY CONNECTION. (Taranaki Herald, 25 June 1908) Taranaki Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jul 1908
FROOTOIDS (Otago Witness, 01 July 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Jul 1908
Untitled (Star, 08 July 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1908
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 16 July 1908) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Aug 1908
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 29 August 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Sept 1908
FOOTBALL. (Star, 02 September 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1908
TELEGRAMS. (Evening Post, 16 October 1908) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1909
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 13 January 1909) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
19 Jan 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 19 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Jan 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Jan 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Feb 1909
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Star, 05 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Feb 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 10 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Feb 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Feb 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Feb 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 20 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Mar 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 March 1909) Star · 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.

“The Mud”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch