How many records does the archive hold?

79,613 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 Well”, the shelf

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

16,187 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 1870s
7 Jun 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 June 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jun 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 June 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1872
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 17 June 1872) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 18 June 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jun 1872
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 19 June 1872) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jun 1872
PARISH MEETING AT MERIVALE. (Star, 19 June 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 20 June 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jun 1872
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 21 June 1872) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jun 1872
Local and General. (Star, 22 June 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jun 1872
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 24 June 1872) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jun 1872
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 26 June 1872) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jun 1872
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 28 June 1872) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1872
Local and General. (Star, 04 July 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Jul 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 08 July 1872) Timaru Herald · 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
20 Jul 1872
Local and General. (Star, 20 July 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1872
COURTENAY PLOUGHING MATCH. (Star, 03 August 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Aug 1872
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Wellington Independent, 07 August 1872) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Aug 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 14 August 1872) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1872
COLONIAL TOPICS. (Colonist, 28 August 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 04 September 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1872
CHAMPION PLOUGHING MATCH. (Star, 09 September 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Sept 1872
The Star. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1872. (Star, 14 September 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Sept 1872
A TEIP TO THE SOUTH. (Colonist, 17 September 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Sept 1872
Local and General. (Star, 19 September 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Sept 1872
THE MELANESIAN MISSION. (Star, 21 September 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Sept 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 24 September 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1872
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Wanganui Herald, 25 September 1872) Wanganui Herald · 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
2 Oct 1872
STREET TRAMWAY. (Star, 02 October 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1872
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Wanganui Herald, 02 October 1872) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 03 October 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 October 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1872
Untitled (Grey River Argus, 07 October 1872) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 October 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1872
Local and General. (Star, 19 October 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 24 October 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 25 October 1872) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1872
Local and General. (Star, 02 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Nov 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Auckland Star, 11 November 1872) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Nov 1872
Local and General. (Star, 14 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1872
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. (Star, 26 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Nov 1872
Untitled (Southland Times, 26 November 1872) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 28 November 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1872
Untitled (Grey River Argus, 29 November 1872) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Dec 1872
Telegrams. (Otago Witness, 07 December 1872) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Dec 1872
News of the Week, (Otago Witness, 07 December 1872) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1872
Untitled (Wellington Independent, 13 December 1872) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Auckland Star, 21 December 1872) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1872
Local and General. (Star, 26 December 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jan 1873
Local and General. (Star, 03 January 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jan 1873
THE EXHIBITS FOR VIENNA. (Star, 03 January 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jan 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Nelson Evening Mail, 06 January 1873) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Nelson Evening Mail, 07 January 1873) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Nelson Evening Mail, 08 January 1873) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 11 January 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Nelson Evening Mail, 11 January 1873) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1873
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 13 January 1873) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Nelson Evening Mail, 15 January 1873) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1873
Untitled (Wellington Independent, 15 January 1873) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 16 January 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Nelson Evening Mail, 16 January 1873) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jan 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 17 January 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 27 January 1873) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jan 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 29 January 1873) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Feb 1873
Local and General. (Star, 03 February 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Feb 1873
WRECK OF A WOOL SHIP. (Timaru Herald, 10 February 1873) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1873
BOARD OF EDUCATION. (Star, 11 February 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Feb 1873
CHRISTCHURCH. (Auckland Star, 14 February 1873) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1873
THE Daily Southern Cross. (Daily Southern Cross, 18 February 1873) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Mar 1873
The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News MONDAY, MARCH 3, 1873. (Auckland Star, 03 March 1873) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Mar 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 04 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Mar 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Mar 1873
Local and General News. (Marlborough Express, 08 March 1873) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1873
CHRISTCHURCH. (Auckland Star, 10 March 1873) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Mar 1873
Untitled (Wellington Independent, 18 March 1873) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Mar 1873
MAGISTERIAL. (Star, 20 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Mar 1873
Untitled (Wanganui Herald, 22 March 1873) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Mar 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 22 March 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Mar 1873
BOARD OF HEALTH. (Star, 25 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Mar 1873
CHRISTCHURCH. (Auckland Star, 25 March 1873) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1873
A VISIT TO THE WEST COAST. (West Coast Times, 27 March 1873) West Coast Times · 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
31 Mar 1873
THE Otago Daily Times. MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1873. (Otago Daily Times, 31 March 1873) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Apr 1873
Local and General. (Star, 04 April 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Apr 1873
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Nelson Evening Mail, 07 April 1873) Nelson Evening Mail · 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
25 Apr 1873
Local and General. (Star, 25 April 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1873
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Grey River Argus, 25 April 1873) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1873
Locan and General. (Star, 28 April 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 30 April 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
6 May 1873
MAGISTERIAL. (Star, 06 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
15 May 1873
LATEST TELEGRAMS. (West Coast Times, 15 May 1873) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1873
Local and General. (Star, 17 May 1873) 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 Well”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch