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.

“"Lyttelton"”, the shelf

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

14,812 records matching 92 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 1860s
10 May 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 10 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 10 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
14 May 1862
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 14 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 14 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 May 1862
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 14 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 14 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 14 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 14 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 14 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 14 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 14 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 14 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 14 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
17 May 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 May 1862
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1862
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1862
MARRIAGE. (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 17 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
21 May 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 May 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1862
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1862
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand
9 Aug 1862
PORT OF NAPIER (Hawke's Bay Herald, 09 August 1862) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1862
CHRISTCHURCH. (Otago Daily Times, 16 September 1862) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1862
SIR GEORGE GREY AND WI TAKO. (Colonist, 11 November 1862) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Nov 1862
PROGRESS OF PUBLIC WORKS IN CANTERBURY. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 18 November 1862) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Nov 1862
RAILWAY FROM CHRISTCHURCH TO FERRY (Southland Times, 21 November 1862) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1863
Early Lyttelton by Christchurch Star · 1860 - 1900 Christchurch Star photographs · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
3 Jan 1863
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 03 January 1863) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1863
PUBLIC WORKS.-CANTERBURY. (FROM THE "LYTTELTON TIMES.") (Daily Southern Cross, 05 February 1863) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1863
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Colonist, 13 March 1863) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Apr 1863
THE CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH. (Wellington Independent, 23 April 1863) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jun 1863
CANTERBURY. (Otago Daily Times, 19 June 1863) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Aug 1863
Shipping Summary. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 08 August 1863) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Nov 1863
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 14 November 1863) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1864
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 09 January 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1864
News of the week. (Otago Witness, 30 January 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Feb 1864
CANTERBURY. (Southland Times, 10 February 1864) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Feb 1864
Page 24 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Witness, 13 February 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1864
Page 24 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Witness, 20 February 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1864
Page 23 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Witness, 05 March 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1864
Page 22 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Witness, 19 March 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1864
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 07 May 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
10 May 1864
MR. CRACROFT WILSON, C.B., AS A PROVINCIAL COUNCILLOR. (Colonist, 10 May 1864) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1864
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 11 June 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1864
DEATHS. (Timaru Herald, 25 June 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1864
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, 25 June 1864) New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jul 1864
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 02 July 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
2 Aug 1864
CHRISTCHURCH COMMERCIAL. (Southland Times, 02 August 1864) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1864
CHRISTCHURCH. (Southland Times, 08 September 1864) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1864
CHRISTCHURCH. (Southland Times, 10 September 1864) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1864
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Timaru Herald, 10 September 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1864
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 24 September 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1864
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Timaru Herald, 24 September 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1864
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Timaru Herald, 01 October 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Oct 1864
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 15 October 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Oct 1864
ARRIVAL OF THE LORD ASHLEY, WITH THE ENGLISH MAIL. NEWS TO SEPTEMBER 3. WELLINGTON THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT. MEETING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN AUCKLAND. DESPERATE FIGHTING IN AMERICA. FEDERAL GENERAL GRANT DEFEATED BY LEE. DESTRUCTION OF THE SOUTHERN FLEET OF MOBILE. TREACHEROUS SURRENDER OF A CONFEDERATE FORT TO THE FEDERALS. GENERAL M'CLELLAN NOMINATED TO THE PRESIDENCY. 30,000 FEDERAL PRISONERS IN SOUTH CAROLINA. FATAL ORANGE RIOTS IN BELFAST —SIXTY PERSONS KILLED AND TWO HUNDRED WOUNDED. FEARFUL HURRICANE IN ENGLAND —IMMENSE DAMAGE. EARTHQUAKE AT ST. HELENA. ENGINEERS AND SAPPERS FOR NEW ZEALAND. VICTORIA CROSS FOR BRAVERY IN NEW ZEALAND. (The following appeared in our Extra, of Oct. 24 ) (New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, 26 October 1864) New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1864
THE Otago Daily Times. (Otago Daily Times, 07 November 1864) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Nov 1864
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 12 November 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Dec 1864
THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." DUNEDIN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23. (Otago Daily Times, 23 December 1864) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1864
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 24 December 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1865
Dalcroy House - List No. 7376 The New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero · Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga · about 1 place
28 Jan 1865
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 28 January 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Feb 1865
Untitled (Otago Witness, 03 February 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1865
NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION. No. V. (Otago Daily Times, 23 February 1865) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1865
NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION. No. V. MINING, QUARRYING, METALLURGY, AND MINERAL PRODUCTS. (Otago Witness, 25 February 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1865
THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam" DUNEDIN, MONDAY, MARCH 6. (Otago Daily Times, 06 March 1865) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Apr 1865
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 07 April 1865) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 08 April 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Apr 1865
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 20 April 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1865
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 22 April 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1865
Untitled (Timaru Herald, 03 June 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1865
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 06 June 1865) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1865
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 07 June 1865) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Aug 1865
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 05 August 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Aug 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 26 August 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 02 September 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1865
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 11 November 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Nov 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 11 November 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Nov 1865
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Wellington Independent, 23 November 1865) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Dec 1865
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 30 December 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1866
Photograph: Worcester Street, Christchurch by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
1866
Shipboard Diary: Glenmark 1866 Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
5 Jan 1866
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL EXTENSION BILL, 1865. (Timaru Herald, 05 January 1866) Timaru Herald · 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.

“"Lyttelton"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch