How many records does the archive hold?

80,797 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 Free Theatre”, the shelf

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

861 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
23 Nov 1894
Local & General. (Star, 23 November 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1894
Evening Post. MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1894. 1894. (Evening Post, 31 December 1894) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Jan 1895
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 14 January 1895) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jan 1895
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 January 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 May 1895
Local & General. (Star, 11 May 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1895
WELLLINGTON WING WHISPERS (Otago Witness, 30 May 1895) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1895
CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL. (Star, 10 December 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1896
THE OTOGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1896. (Otago Daily Times, 27 February 1896) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1896
THE OTOGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, MAY 29, 1896. (Otago Daily Times, 29 May 1896) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jun 1896
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 18 June 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Aug 1896
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 12 August 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1896
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 25 August 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1896
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 25 September 1896) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1896
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 08 October 1896) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1896
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 16 October 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1896
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 07 November 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1896
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 29 December 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 02 January 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Feb 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 10 February 1897) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1897
Untitled (Auckland Star, 15 February 1897) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 09 March 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1897
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 16 March 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 05 April 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1897
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 April 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Apr 1897
LOCAL ACT GENERAL. (Star, 22 April 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Apr 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 24 April 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Apr 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 26 April 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Apr 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 30 April 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 13 May 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
12 Oct 1897
West Coast Times. TUESDAY, OCT 12, 1897. THE ENGINEERS' STRIKE. (West Coast Times, 12 October 1897) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1897
Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. (Poverty Bay Herald, 02 December 1897) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Dec 1897
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 11 December 1897) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
15 Jan 1898
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 15 January 1898) Star · 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
22 Feb 1898
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 22 February 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
31 Mar 1898
1897. JANUARY. (Otago Witness, 31 March 1898) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1898
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 06 April 1898) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1898
The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1898. TOWN & COUNTRY. (Timaru Herald, 11 June 1898) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1898
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 23 July 1898) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1898
POLICE PROTECTION. (Poverty Bay Herald, 30 November 1898) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1898
CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. (Otago Witness, 29 December 1898) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Dec 1898
CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 1898. (Otago Daily Times, 31 December 1898) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1899
STAGE GOSSIP. (Otago Witness, 02 March 1899) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1899
UPPER HOUSE REFORIM. (Poverty Bay Herald, 04 August 1899) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1899
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Nelson Evening Mail, 16 September 1899) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1899
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 28 September 1899) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Oct 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 October 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1900s
25 Jan 1900
THE PATRIOTIC FUND. (Otago Witness, 25 January 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jan 1900
GALA AT MERIVALE. (Star, 26 January 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Feb 1900
TOWN & COUNTRY. (Timaru Herald, 21 February 1900) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1900
By Crackshot.] RACING FIXTURES. THE TURF. (Evening Post, 24 February 1900) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
1 Mar 1900
THE FOURTH CONTINGENT (Otago Witness, 01 March 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Mar 1900
HORSES ALLOTTED AND EQUIPMENT SERVED OUT. (Otago Witness, 15 March 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Mar 1900
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 31 March 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1900
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 25 April 1900) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 May 1900
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 18 May 1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1900
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Otago Daily Times 18-9-1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1900
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Southland Times, 18 October 1900) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1900
THE COLONIST, Published Daily��Mobning3 Nelson, Wednesday, Octobeb 24,1900. THE PBESIDENTIAL ELECTION. (Colonist, 24 October 1900) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Oct 1900
The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1900. (Taranaki Herald, 30 October 1900) Taranaki Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Mar 1901
Untitled (Taranaki Herald, 18 March 1901) Taranaki Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Apr 1901
Untitled (Nelson Evening Mail, 23 April 1901) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Apr 1901
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 24 April 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Dec 1901
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 20 December 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 February 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1902
Social Gossip. (New Zealand Free Lance, 08 February 1902) New Zealand Free Lance · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Feb 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 19 February 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1902
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 22 May 1902) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 May 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jun 1902
THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES. (Otago Witness, 04 June 1902) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 18 June 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
29 Nov 1902
Local and General. (Wanganui Chronicle, 29 November 1902) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1902
THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES. (Otago Witness, 03 December 1902) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 08 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jan 1903
ADVANCE WHATAUPOKO. (Poverty Bay Herald, 31 January 1903) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Feb 1903
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 11 February 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 14 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Wanganui Herald, 27 March 1903) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Mar 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. LICENSING ELECTIONS. PERSONAL MATTERS. ACCIDENTS AND NATALITIES MINING NEWS. CHARGE OF THREATENED. INCENDIARISM. CABLE NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH-COPYRIGHT.] "LARRIKINISM" IN MELBOURNE KANAKAS IN QUEENSLAND. THE LATE SIR F. SARGOOD. SYD. GREGORY'S BANKRUPTCY AUSTRALIAN NEWS. ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION. CABLE NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH-COPYRIGHT.] GERMANY AND THE UNITED STATES. BISHOP NELGAN. A NEW RUSSIAN LOAN. UNIVERSITY BOAT RACES VARIOUS CABLED ITEMS. CABLE NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH-COPYRIGHT.] SOUTH AFRICA. LORD ELGIN'S WAR COMMIS-SION. THE KING'S VISIT TO SCOTLAND LONDON BANK OF AUSTRALIA. THEFTS ON STEAMERS. CABLE NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH-COPYRIGHT.] CRICKET. GENERAL TELEGRAMS. ENTERTAINMENTS. ETC. THE ELINGAMITE WRECK. EXTRA EDITION. LATE SHIPPING. (Evening Post, 28 March 1903) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Wanganui Herald, 30 March 1903) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Apr 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Ashburton Guardian, 04 April 1903) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1903
AN ATTRACTIVE EXHIBITION. (Otago Witness, 10 June 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Aug 1903
OMNIUM GATHERUM. (Otago Witness, 12 August 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Oct 1903
Untitled (Colonist, 23 October 1903) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1903
Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISEORNE. TUESDAY, OCT. 27, 1903. (Poverty Bay Herald, 27 October 1903) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Nov 1903
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 02 November 1903) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1903
THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES. (Otago Witness, 11 November 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Feb 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 February 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Mar 1904
NOTES AMD QUERIES. The Otago Witness, THE WEEK. SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES. SHOOTING AT A CHINAMAN SPORTING. TALK OF THE DAY. IN A NUTSHELL CANTERBURY DOINGS. WELLINGTON NOTES. AUCKLAND TOPICS. SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA. (Otago Witness, 23 March 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
8 Jun 1904
SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES (Otago Witness, 08 June 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jul 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 July 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Aug 1904
Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 1904 (Poverty Bay Herald, 13 August 1904) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Sept 1904
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 06 September 1904) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Wanganui Herald, 09 September 1904) Wanganui Herald · 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 Free Theatre”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch