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.

“Cotton On”, the shelf

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

522 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
15 Sept 1897
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 15 September 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Oct 1897
THE SHOW. (Ashburton Guardian, 30 October 1897) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
8 Jan 1898
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 08 January 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jun 1898
LOCAL AND MINERAL. (Star, 14 June 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1898
THE EXHIBITION. (Auckland Star, 13 December 1898) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1898
WOODVILLE RACES. (Otago Witness, 22 December 1898) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1899
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 20 January 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jan 1899
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 31 January 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Apr 1899
Untitled (Auckland Star, 11 April 1899) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Jul 1899
Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, JULY 21, 1899. (Nelson Evening Mail, 21 July 1899) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times, 03 August 1899) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times, 04 August 1899) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1900s
1 Mar 1900
THE FOURTH CONTINGENT (Otago Witness, 01 March 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1900
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS. (Otago Daily Times, 06 June 1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jul 1900
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 06 July 1900) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Aug 1900
THE RAILWAY CONCESSIONS. (Daily Telegraph, 01 August 1900) Daily Telegraph · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1900
Local and General (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 02 October 1900) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1901
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 02 January 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1901
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Ashburton Guardian, 09 January 1901) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Feb 1901
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 February 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
27 Nov 1901
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Grey River Argus, 27 November 1901) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1901
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Grey River Argus, 28 November 1901) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1901
WELLINGTON NOTES. (Otago Witness, 04 December 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1902
SEVENTH NEW ZEALANDERS' CASUALTIES. (Poverty Bay Herald, 01 March 1902) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Mar 1902
CABLE NEWS. (Evening Post, 03 March 1902) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1902
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 September 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1902
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 29 September 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 30 September 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
4 Feb 1903
Page 15 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Witness, 04 February 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Feb 1903
Page 15 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Witness, 11 February 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Mar 1903
Page 15 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Witness, 25 March 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
8 Apr 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 13 May 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1903
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1904
ALBION v. SYDENHAM. (Star, 16 April 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1904
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 17 May 1904) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Jun 1904
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 21 June 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1904
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 23 September 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1904
OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SHOW. (Otago Witness, 30 November 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1904
1904 DIARY OF EVENTS. (Evening Post, 31 December 1904) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jan 1905
IN A NUTSHELL. (Otago Witness, 18 January 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
8 Feb 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 February 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 May 1905
CHAPTER IX. (Otago Witness, 31 May 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
3 Oct 1905
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 03 October 1905) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1905
IN A NUTSHELL. (Otago Witness, 18 October 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Dec 1905
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jan 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Nelson Evening Mail, 10 January 1906) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1906
CONTINUED LIBERAL SUCCESSES. (Evening Post, 19 January 1906) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Feb 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Nelson Evening Mail, 27 February 1906) Nelson Evening Mail · 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
27 Mar 1906
Untitled (Evening Post, 27 March 1906) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1906
OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY. (Otago Witness, 13 June 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
25 Aug 1906
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Ellesmere Guardian, 25 August 1906) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1906
NEWS NOTES. (Poverty Bay Herald, 26 September 1906) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Oct 1906
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 October 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Nov 1906
COST OF THE BUILDINGS. (Evening Post, 02 November 1906) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 10 December 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jan 1907
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 January 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jan 1907
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 January 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Apr 1907
GOLF. (Evening Post, 01 April 1907) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1907
GOLF. (Otago Witness, 03 April 1907) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1907
IN A NUTSHELL. (Otago Witness, 24 July 1907) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jul 1907
TABLE TALK. (Otago Witness, 31 July 1907) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1907
OUR LONDON LETTER. (Nelson Evening Mail, 02 August 1907) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Sept 1907
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 September 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Nov 1907
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Nelson Evening Mail, 02 November 1907) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1908
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 08 January 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Feb 1908
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1908
PARS ABOUT PEOPLE (Observer, 21 March 1908) Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 May 1908
Untitled (Otago Witness, 06 May 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
6 May 1908
CHRISTCHURCH AUTUMN MEETING. (Otago Witness, 06 May 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1908
FOOTBALL. (Star, 16 May 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1908
TYPICAL SIRES. (Otago Witness, 10 June 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1908
CHRISTCHURCH v. LINWOOD. (Star, 04 July 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Aug 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 August 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Sept 1908
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 September 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Sept 1908
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 September 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
3 Oct 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 October 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1908
IN A NUTSHELL. (Otago Witness, 21 October 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 24 October 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Nov 1908
Page 4 Advertisements Column 7 (Nelson Evening Mail, 05 November 1908) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1908
EMMELINE'S COSY CORNER CLUB. (Otago Witness, 11 November 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Dec 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 7 (Colonist, 14 December 1908) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 7 (Colonist, 15 December 1908) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1908
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Colonist, 31 December 1908) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 20 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1909
SWIMMING. (Star, 06 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1909
FOOTBALL. (Star, 11 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1909
TABLE TALK (Otago Witness, 05 May 1909) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Aug 1909
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 11 August 1909) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1909
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 27 October 1909) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Nov 1909
TABLE TALK. (Otago Witness, 03 November 1909) 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.

“Cotton On”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch