How many records does the archive hold?

67,402 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.

“The Piano”, the shelf

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

1,885 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
28 Jan 1898
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 January 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1898
DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 25 February 1898) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1898
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 12 April 1898) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 5 places
13 Apr 1898
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 13 April 1898) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 5 places
7 May 1898
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Auckland Star, 07 May 1898) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1898
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 17 May 1898) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1898
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 31 August 1898) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1898
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 08 September 1898) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1898
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times, 16 September 1898) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Sept 1898
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 September 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Sept 1898
TOWN & COUNTRY. (Timaru Herald, 19 September 1898) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Sept 1898
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 19 September 1898) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1898
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times, 23 September 1898) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Oct 1898
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 10 October 1898) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Oct 1898
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 15 October 1898) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1898
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 29 October 1898) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Nov 1898
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 05 November 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Nov 1898
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 November 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1898
West Coast Times SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1898. A VINDICATION. (West Coast Times, 03 December 1898) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 January 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Jan 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 January 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jan 1899
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 January 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1899
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 January 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 January 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Feb 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 February 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1899
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 February 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1899
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 18 February 1899) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Feb 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Auckland Star, 25 February 1899) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Feb 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 25 February 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Mar 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 18 March 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Apr 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 11 April 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Apr 1899
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 April 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 May 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 06 May 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 May 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 09 May 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 May 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 May 1899
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Ellesmere Guardian, 17 May 1899) Ellesmere Guardian · 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
5 Jun 1899
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 05 June 1899) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1899
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 06 June 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jun 1899
TOWN & COUNTRY. (Timaru Herald, 10 June 1899) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1899
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 16 June 1899) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1899
ENTERTAINMENTS. (Star, 16 June 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 17 June 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
17 Jun 1899
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Ellesmere Guardian, 17 June 1899) Ellesmere Guardian · 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
24 Jun 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 24 June 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jul 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 01 July 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Jul 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 29 July 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times, 03 August 1899) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1899
UPPER HOUSE REFORIM. (Poverty Bay Herald, 04 August 1899) Poverty Bay Herald · 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
5 Aug 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 05 August 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Aug 1899
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 August 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Oct 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times, 04 October 1899) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1899
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 09 October 1899) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 October 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1899
TABLE TALK. (Otago Witness, 02 November 1899) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Nov 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 04 November 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Nov 1899
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 11 November 1899) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1899
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 November 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 02 December 1899) Star · 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
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 December 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1899
Summary. (Colonist, 21 December 1899) Colonist · 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
13 Feb 1900
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Evening Post, 13 February 1900) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Feb 1900
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Ashburton Guardian, 16 February 1900) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Feb 1900
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Ashburton Guardian, 19 February 1900) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Feb 1900
OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND CONTINGENT. (Otago Witness, 22 February 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Feb 1900
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Ashburton Guardian, 22 February 1900) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
10 Mar 1900
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 March 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1900
THE FIFTH CONTINGENT. (Star, 24 March 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Mar 1900
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Otago Daily Times, 24 March 1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Mar 1900
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 31 March 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Apr 1900
THE FIFTH COTINGENT. (Otago Daily Times, 02 April 1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
5 Apr 1900
THE CONTINGENTS. (Otago Witness, 05 April 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
7 Apr 1900
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 April 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Apr 1900
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 April 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1900
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times 4-8-1900) Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Apr 1900
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 April 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Apr 1900
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 April 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1900
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times 17-4-1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1900
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 April 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1900
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 May 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1900
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 10 May 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 May 1900
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 May 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 May 1900
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 May 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1900
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Evening Post, 14 May 1900) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 May 1900
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 26 May 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1900
TOWN & COUNTRY. (Timaru Herald, 18 June 1900) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jul 1900
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 12 July 1900) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jul 1900
ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC. (Evening Post, 12 July 1900) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1900
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times 24-7-1900) Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Jul 1900
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times 28-7-1900) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Aug 1900
Untitled (Auckland Star, 07 August 1900) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Aug 1900
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 August 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Aug 1900
CHURCH OF ENGLAND TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. (Star, 09 August 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Aug 1900
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times 29-8-1900) Otago Daily Times · 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.

“The Piano”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch