How many records does the archive hold?

81,477 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.

“Smith and Smith”, the shelf

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

8,643 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 Apr 1899
THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES. SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1890. (Otago Daily Times, 15 April 1899) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Apr 1899
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 15 April 1899) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Apr 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 18 April 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 21 April 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1899
AVONDALE RACES. (Feilding Star, 21 April 1899) Feilding Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1899
SCHOOL COMMITTEES. (Star, 21 April 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1899
CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 25 April 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 25 April 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 28 April 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 May 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 02 May 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 May 1899
WEEKLY LIVE STOCK AND PRODUCE REPORT. Wednesday, May 3. BIRTHS. MARRIAGES. DEATHS. (Otago Witness, 04 May 1899) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 05 May 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 May 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 09 May 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 May 1899
Page 3 Advertisements Column 7 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 09 May 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 10 May 1899) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
10 May 1899
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 10 May 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1899
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS. (Otago Daily Times, 10 May 1899) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 May 1899
TABLE TALK. Monday Afternoon. (Otago Witness, 11 May 1899) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1899
FOOTBALL NOTES. (Star, 12 May 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Ellesmere Guardian, 13 May 1899) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
19 May 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 19 May 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 May 1899
VITAL STATISTICS. (Star, 19 May 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Ellesmere Guardian, 20 May 1899) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 May 1899
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 May 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1899
TOWN & COUNTRY (Timaru Herald, 22 May 1899) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 23 May 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Ellesmere Guardian, 24 May 1899) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
26 May 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 26 May 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Ellesmere Guardian, 27 May 1899) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
27 May 1899
MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES. (Star, 27 May 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Timaru Herald, 27 May 1899) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1899
INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES. (Evening Post, 29 May 1899) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Timaru Herald, 29 May 1899) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jun 1899
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Timaru Herald, 01 June 1899) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 02 June 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
3 Jun 1899
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 03 June 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1899
SCHOOL COMMITTEES. (Star, 03 June 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1899
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 05 June 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 06 June 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 June 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1899
DRAINAGE BOARD. (Star, 07 June 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jun 1899
DEATHS. (Star, 08 June 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jun 1899
ENTERTAINMENTS. (Star, 09 June 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 10 June 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 13 June 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1899
GOOD HEALTH WITHOUT DRUGS. 2.—THE LARGEST ORGAN IN THE BODY. (Otago Witness, 15 June 1899) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1899
MAGISTERIAL. (Star, 15 June 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1899
CHRISTCHURCH (Star, 17 June 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jun 1899
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 19 June 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 20 June 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jun 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 23 June 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jun 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 24 June 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jun 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 24 June 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jun 1899
FOOTBALL. (Timaru Herald, 26 June 1899) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jun 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 27 June 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jun 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 30 June 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jul 1899
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 01 July 1899) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 04 July 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jul 1899
IN A NUTSHELL. (Otago Witness, 06 July 1899) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Jul 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 07 July 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jul 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Ellesmere Guardian, 08 July 1899) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jul 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 11 July 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jul 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Ellesmere Guardian, 12 July 1899) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Jul 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 21 July 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1899
DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE. (Star, 21 July 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1899
FOOTBALL. (Star, 24 July 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jul 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 25 July 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jul 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 28 July 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Aug 1899
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 01 August 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Aug 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 01 August 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1899
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 03 August 1899) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 04 August 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
4 Aug 1899
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 04 August 1899) Star · 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
8 Aug 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 08 August 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
10 Aug 1899
WEEKLY MARKET REPORTS. (Otago Daily Times, 10 August 1899) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Aug 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 11 August 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Aug 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 15 August 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Aug 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 18 August 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Aug 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 22 August 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
23 Aug 1899
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 23 August 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Aug 1899
DISTRICT & GENERAL. (Bush Advocate, 24 August 1899) Bush Advocate · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1899
THE VOLUNTEERS. (Star, 25 August 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Aug 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 29 August 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
29 Aug 1899
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 29 August 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1899
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS. (Otago Daily Times, 30 August 1899) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1899
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 30 August 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1899
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 04 September 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1899
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 07 September 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Ellesmere Guardian, 09 September 1899) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
11 Sept 1899
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 September 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 12 September 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
12 Sept 1899
COUNCIL. (Star, 12 September 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Ellesmere Guardian, 13 September 1899) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
15 Sept 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 15 September 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Sept 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Ellesmere Guardian, 16 September 1899) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
16 Sept 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 16 September 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Sept 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 19 September 1899) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Sept 1899
LINWOOD. (Star, 19 September 1899) 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.

“Smith and Smith”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch