How many records does the archive hold?

70,536 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.

“Top In Town”, the shelf

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

976 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
19 Aug 1898
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 19 August 1898) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Nov 1898
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 November 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1898
AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. (Otago Witness, 08 December 1898) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1898
Untitled (Mataura Ensign, 22 December 1898) Mataura Ensign · 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
30 Dec 1898
THE PROPOSED DISARMAMENT. (Auckland Star, 30 December 1898) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Jan 1899
A GIRL'S EXPERIENCES IN THE STATES. (Star, 07 January 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 February 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1899
TOWN & COUNTRY. (Timaru Herald, 10 June 1899) Timaru Herald · 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
22 Jun 1899
Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 1899. (Manawatu Herald, 22 June 1899) Manawatu Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jun 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 24 June 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
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
24 Nov 1899
OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY. (Otago Daily Times, 24 November 1899) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Nov 1899
THE TOLL OF THE SEA, (Otago Witness, 30 November 1899) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
30 Nov 1899
SHOWS. OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY. (Otago Witness, 30 November 1899) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Dec 1899
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 December 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Dec 1899
The Elections (Hawera & Normanby Star, 07 December 1899) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
7 Dec 1899
DETAILS OF THE POLLING (Otago Daily Times, 07 December 1899) Otago Daily Times · 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
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
24 Feb 1900
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 24 February 1900) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
5 Apr 1900
THE CONTINGENTS. (Otago Witness, 05 April 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
4 Jun 1900
A PRESERVE FOR NATIVE BIRDS. (Star, 04 June 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jul 1900
CHRISTCHURCH GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS. (christchurch Press.) (North Otago Times, 30 July 1900) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Sept 1900
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 14 September 1900) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Sept 1900
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 26 September 1900) Otago Witness · 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
10 Oct 1900
OLD WRITERS' WEEK. (Otago Witness, 10 October 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Oct 1900
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 31 October 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1900
AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. (Otago Witness, 28 November 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1900
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 01 December 1900) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1900
DE WET ASKS FOR UNACCEPTABLE TERMS. (Otago Witness, 26 December 1900) Otago Witness · 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
16 Jan 1901
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 16 January 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1901
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 23 January 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jan 1901
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 January 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Mar 1901
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 06 March 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1901
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 09 March 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Mar 1901
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 13 March 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Mar 1901
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 March 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1901
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 March 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1901
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 17 April 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Apr 1901
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Evening Post, 26 April 1901) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jun 1901
THE ROYAL VISIT. (Otago Witness, 12 June 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jun 1901
THE ROYAL VISIT. ENTRY INTO WELLINGTON. (Evening Post, 18 June 1901) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jun 1901
SIGHT-SEEING AT ROTORUA. (Otago Witness, 19 June 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jun 1901
THE NELSON CELEBRATIONS. (Colonist, 29 June 1901) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Jul 1901
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 July 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1901
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 10 July 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jul 1901
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 July 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jul 1901
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 July 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Aug 1901
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 05 August 1901) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Aug 1901
Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERT EVENING. GISBORNE SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1901 (Poverty Bay Herald, 10 August 1901) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1901
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 04 September 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1901
Nelson: SIXTY YEARS OF HISTORY. (Nelson Evening Mail, 07 September 1901) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1901
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 25 September 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1901
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 16 October 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1901
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 November 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
7 Dec 1901
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 07 December 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Dec 1901
OLD WRITERS' WEEK. (Otago Witness, 25 December 1901) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1902
RACING IN NEW ZEALAND. (Otago Witness, 01 January 1902) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jan 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 22 January 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1902
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Wanganui Chronicle, 24 January 1902) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Hawera & Normanby Star, 27 January 1902) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1902
The Wanganui Herald. (Wanganui Herald, 03 April 1902) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Apr 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 18 April 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 May 1902
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 02 May 1902) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. (Otago Witness, 28 May 1902) Otago Witness · 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
23 Jun 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 June 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jul 1902
OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY. (Otago Witness, 02 July 1902) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jul 1902
COSY CORNER CLUB. FOURTH SESSION, SECOND MEETING (Otago Witness, 09 July 1902) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jul 1902
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 12 July 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1902
Cap and Jacket (Observer, 13 September 1902) Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Nov 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Nov 1902
THE GENERAL ELECTION. REDUCED GOVERNMENT MAJORITY. (Evening Post, 26 November 1902) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Dec 1902
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 13 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Auckland Star, 08 January 1903) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Marlborough Express, 14 January 1903) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jan 1903
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Jan 1903
GREATER CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 21 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1903
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 25 February 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Mar 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 04 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 10 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Mar 1903
SPORT AND PASTIME. (Evening Post, 14 March 1903) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Mar 1903
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. Motto:—We write.for the benefit of others, not for ourselves. (Otago Witness, 18 March 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 March 1903) Star · 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
6 May 1903
Page 15 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Witness, 06 May 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 May 1903
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 06 May 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 May 1903
COMMERCIAL (Otago Witness, 13 May 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1903
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 27 May 1903) Otago Witness · 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

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.

“Top In Town”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch