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.

8,691 records matching 97 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
22 Sept 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 September 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times 29-9-1903) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1903
N.Z. PARLIAMENT. (Otago Witness, 30 September 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 02 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 07 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Oct 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 12 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Oct 1903
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 20 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1903
BALL AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE (Evening Post, 22 October 1903) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1903
Untitled (Mataura Ensign 24-10-1903) Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Oct 1903
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 26 October 1903) Star · 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
28 Oct 1903
NOTES BY LONG SHIP. (Otago Witness, 28 October 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1903
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 02 November 1903) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Nov 1903
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 04 November 1903) Star · 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
10 Nov 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 10 November 1903) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1903
SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA. (Otago Witness, 11 November 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Nov 1903
PERSONAL. (Star, 23 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Nov 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 23 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1903
METHODIST SYNODS. (Auckland Star, 26 November 1903) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Nov 1903
Lawn Tennis, (Evening Post, 28 November 1903) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Nov 1903
PUBLIC SCHOOLS SPORTS. (Star, 28 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 December 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Dec 1903
Page 33 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Witness, 09 December 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1903
Local and General. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 11 December 1903) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Dec 1903
AN EMINENT PHILOSOPHER. (Manawatu Standard, 12 December 1903) Manawatu Standard · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Dec 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 12 December 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Dec 1903
TABLE TALK, (Otago Witness, 16 December 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Dec 1903
THE AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. (Otago Witness, 16 December 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1903
THE COLONIST. Ppublished Daily-Morning. Nelson, Thursday, Deo. 31, 1903. 1903. (Colonist, 31 December 1903) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jan 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 11 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1904
PUPIL-TEACHERS' EXAMINATION. (Star, 11 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1904
DEATHS. (Star, 11 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 12 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1904
PUPIL-TEACHERS' EXAMINATION. (Star, 12 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1904
INFECTIOUS DISEASES. (Marlborough Express, 14 January 1904) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1904
SMALLPOX IN CHRISTCHURCH. (Feilding Star, 15 January 1904) Feilding Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1904
SMALLPOX. (Manawatu Times, 15 January 1904) Manawatu Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jan 1904
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 16 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jan 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1904
SMALLPOX IN CHRISTCHURCH. (Feilding Star, 18 January 1904) Feilding Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1904
CONTINUES TO SPREAD. (Star, 18 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1904
Untitled (Southland Times, 23 January 1904) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1904
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 28 January 1904) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jan 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Jan 1904
PERSONAL MATTERS. (Evening Post, 29 January 1904) Evening Post · 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
10 Feb 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 February 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1904
OPAWA ROAD. (Star, 12 February 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Feb 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 February 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Feb 1904
All Sorts of People (New Zealand Free Lance, 13 February 1904) New Zealand Free Lance · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 16 February 1904) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 23 February 1904) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1904
TABLE TALK, (Otago Witness, 24 February 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1904
PUBLIC SCHOOL CADETS. (Star, 25 February 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 25 February 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 05 March 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 March 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Mar 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 March 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1904
POLO (West Coast Times, 09 March 1904) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1904
CHAMPIONSHIP RIFLE MEETING. (Feilding Star, 09 March 1904) Feilding Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1904
Defence Association Rifle Meeting. (Taranaki Herald, 09 March 1904) Taranaki Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1904
Prize List of the Otago match. (Wanganui Chronicle, 09 March 1904) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1904
TRENTHAM RIFLE RANGE. (Grey River Argus, 10 March 1904) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1904
PATENTS. (Feilding Star, 10 March 1904) Feilding Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Nelson Evening Mail, 12 March 1904) Nelson Evening Mail · 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
17 Mar 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 17 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
19 Mar 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 March 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 22 March 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 22 March 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
23 Mar 1904
ROSEWALL SETTLEMENT. (Otago Witness, 23 March 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
24 Mar 1904
COLONIAL INVENTIONS. (Evening Post, 24 March 1904) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Mar 1904
DEATH. (Star, 25 March 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 29 March 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Apr 1904
Miss Smith, April 1904 by Samuel Anstey · Samuel Anstey collection · Canterbury Stories · no. 10800 · Christchurch City Libraries
1 Apr 1904
Miss Smith, April 1904 by Samuel Anstey · Samuel Anstey collection · Canterbury Stories · no. 10804 · Christchurch City Libraries
2 Apr 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 April 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1904
SOUTHERN (DUNEDIN) v. ALBION (CHRISTCHURCH). (Star, 02 April 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 April 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1904
TABLE TALK, (Otago Witness, 27 April 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 April 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1904
NEW ZEALAND PATENTS. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 30 April 1904) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 May 1904
PERSONAL. (Star, 04 May 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times 14-5-1904) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1904
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 17 May 1904) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 May 1904
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 23 May 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1904
HOKEY. (Star, 25 May 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
11 Jun 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Ashburton Guardian, 11 June 1904) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
1 Jul 1904
New Zealand International Exhibition, 1906-1907, Rotorua at the Exhibition by Charles Beken; Smith and Anthony Ltd. · History · Te Papa Collections Online · Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
2 Jul 1904
ENGLISH TEAM'S N.Z. TOUR. (Observer, 02 July 1904) Observer · 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.

“Smith and Smith”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch