How many records does the archive hold?

63,896 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.

“Four Square”, the shelf

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

1,543 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 1880s
28 Aug 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 August 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1886
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Evening Post, 24 September 1886) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Oct 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 October 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 October 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 02 November 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Nov 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 November 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Nov 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 November 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 November 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Nov 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 November 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 November 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1886
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 03 December 1886) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Dec 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Dec 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 22 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 23 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 December 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 17 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 19 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Jan 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 24 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 January 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
10 Feb 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 10 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1887
Local & General. (Star, 25 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1887
The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1887. (Timaru Herald, 12 March 1887) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Mar 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 March 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 May 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 09 May 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 May 1887
Saint John's Anglican Church (Southland Times, 12 May 1887) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 23 May 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Jul 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 July 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 14 July 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 September 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Sept 1887
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 28 September 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Oct 1887
Marlborough Express. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1887. LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 04 October 1887) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 17 October 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Oct 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 October 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 24 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 27 December 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 16 January 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 19 January 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 7 places
23 Jan 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 January 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Feb 1888
Local & General. (Star, 03 February 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 18 February 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1888
THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES (Otago Daily Times, 12 March 1888) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1888
Local & General (Star, 12 March 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 May 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 19 May 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1888
Local & General. (Star, 30 August 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1888
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 01 September 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 15 September 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 September 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1888
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 08 November 1888) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Nov 1888
TELEGRAMS. (Inangahua Times, 14 November 1888) Inangahua Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Dec 1888
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 18 December 1888) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
4 Jan 1889
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 04 January 1889) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jan 1889
Local & General. (Star, 11 January 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1889
Latest Locals. (Star, 18 January 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 11 February 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1889
Untitled (Auckland Star, 17 April 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1889
Untitled (Auckland Star, 17 July 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Aug 1889
Untitled (Auckland Star, 13 August 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1889
Local &.General. (Star, 20 September 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 September 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1889
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 22 October 1889) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Oct 1889
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 24 October 1889) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1889
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (North Otago Times, 15 November 1889) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Nov 1889
CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 22 November 1889) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Nov 1889
The Dunedin Exhibition. (Auckland Star, 22 November 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Nov 1889
The Dunedin Exhibition. (Auckland Star, 23 November 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1889
The Dunedin Exhibition. (Auckland Star, 25 November 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Nov 1889
IN AND ABOUT CHRISTCHURCH. THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS. (Te Aroha News, 27 November 1889) Te Aroha News · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Nov 1889
Local & General. (Star, 27 November 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Nov 1889
The Dunedin Exhibition. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) (Te Aroha News, 27 November 1889) Te Aroha News · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1889
WELLINGTON. (Otago Daily Times, 27 November 1889) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1890s
4 Feb 1890
Local News. (Star, 04 February 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Feb 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 15 February 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Feb 1890
Local News. (Star, 19 February 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Feb 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 February 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Feb 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 February 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 March 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1890
Local & General. (Star, 14 March 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1890
Untitled (Auckland Star, 22 March 1890) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1890
West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 1890. (West Coast Times, 09 April 1890) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 May 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 May 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 May 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 31 May 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Jun 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 June 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 13 June 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jun 1890
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 June 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1890
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 10 July 1890) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1890
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 01 September 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1890
Marlborough Express. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1890. LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS (Marlborough Express, 04 September 1890) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1890
Local & General, (Star, 20 September 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Nov 1890
Latest Locals. (Star, 15 November 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1890
Local & General. (Star, 25 November 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Nov 1890
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 November 1890) 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.

“Four Square”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch