How many records does the archive hold?

78,375 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.

“Flowers in the City”, the shelf

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

1,189 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 1900s
1 Aug 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 August 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Aug 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 August 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Aug 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 August 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Aug 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 August 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
9 Sept 1903
OMNIUM GATHERUM. (Otago Witness, 09 September 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Sept 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 22 September 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 16 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Nov 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 17 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1903
NEWS OF THE DAY. (Taranaki Daily News 28-11-1903) Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
1 Dec 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Wanganui Chronicle, 01 December 1903) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jan 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 04 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Jan 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Feb 1904
AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. (Otago Witness, 03 February 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Feb 1904
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 February 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Feb 1904
TABLE TALK, (Otago Witness, 24 February 1904) 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
17 Mar 1904
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 March 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Mar 1904
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 March 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 19 March 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Mar 1904
PATER'S CHATS WITH THE BOYS. LITERARY NOTES. Comparisons NOT ALWAYS ODIOUS. GLENMARK. PERSONAL NOTES. IN OLD LINLITHGOW. THREE VALUABLE REPRINTS. ART ANts ARTISTS. (Otago Witness, 23 March 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 April 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Apr 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 05 April 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 06 April 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Apr 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 April 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 May 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jun 1904
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 01 June 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 June 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Jun 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 June 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Jul 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 09 July 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 July 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 July 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jul 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 30 July 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Sept 1904
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 03 September 1904) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 September 1904) Star · 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
24 Sept 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 24 September 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Sept 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 September 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1904
TABLE TALK. (Otago Witness, 28 September 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
12 Nov 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 12 November 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Nov 1904
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 November 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Nov 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 18 November 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Nov 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 21 November 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Nov 1904
THE SOCIAL SPHERE (Observer, 26 November 1904) Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 10 December 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
17 Dec 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 17 December 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1904
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 17 December 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Dec 1904
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 December 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Dec 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 30 December 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 31 December 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 January 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 12 January 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
21 Jan 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 January 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jan 1905
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 26 January 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Feb 1905
LADIES' GOSSIP. (Otago Witness, 01 February 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 February 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Feb 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 07 February 1905) Star · 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
21 Feb 1905
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 February 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Feb 1905
NOTES AND QUERIES. (Otago Witness, 22 February 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1905
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 28 February 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Mar 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 March 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1905
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 21 March 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1905
TABLE TALK. (Otago Witness, 22 March 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Mar 1905
Social Gossip. (New Zealand Free Lance, 25 March 1905) New Zealand Free Lance · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1905
Special gossip (New Zealand Free Lance, 22 April 1905) New Zealand Free Lance · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 22 April 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1905
EMMELINE'S " COSY CORNER CLUB." (Otago Witness, 10 May 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1905
TABLE TALK. (Otago Witness, 17 May 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1905
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. Motto:—We write for the benefit of others, not (Otago Witness, 17 May 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 May 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 May 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 May 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 May 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 May 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 May 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 27 May 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 02 June 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 June 1905) Star · 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
10 Jun 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 10 June 1905) Star · 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
15 Jun 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 June 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Jun 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 15 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
24 Jun 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 24 June 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jul 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 01 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Jul 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jul 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jul 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jul 1905
CHRISTCHURCH NEWS. (Wanganui Herald, 20 July 1905) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jul 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jul 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jul 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 29 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jul 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 31 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Aug 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 August 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Aug 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 09 August 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Aug 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 August 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Aug 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 12 August 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Aug 1905
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 August 1905) 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.

“Flowers in the City”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch