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.

“Black & White”, the shelf

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

3,714 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 1870s
1 Jan 1872
Glass Plate Negative: House of Mr Hawdon by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
1 Jan 1872
Glass Plate Negative: New Zealand Exhibition by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
1 Jan 1872
Photograph: Giant Cut Fish by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
24 Jan 1872
Local and General. (Star, 24 January 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1872
NEW ZEALAND.-GENERAL NEWS. (Colonist, 16 February 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1872
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 02 March 1872) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1872
EVENTS OF THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 09 March 1872) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1872
Local and General. (Star, 11 March 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1872
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Southland Times, 09 April 1872) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1872
Local and General. (Star, 22 April 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 May 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 May 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 10 May 1872) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1872
DUNEDIN, OAMARU, AND CHRISTCHURCH. (West Coast Times, 15 May 1872) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1872
Untitled (Grey River Argus, 29 November 1872) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1873
THE EXHIBITS FOR VIENNA. (Star, 03 January 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1873
NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITS FOR VIENNA. (Timaru Herald, 08 January 1873) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 11 January 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1873
NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITS FOR VIENNA. (Timaru Herald, 13 January 1873) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 21 January 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jan 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Timaru Herald, 22 January 1873) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jan 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 23 January 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1873
A VISIT TO THE WEST COAST. (West Coast Times, 27 March 1873) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1873
Local and General. (Star, 25 April 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1873
Local and General. (Star, 05 May 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jul 1873
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Timaru Herald, 02 July 1873) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Jul 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Timaru Herald, 07 July 1873) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Jul 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 July 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1873
Telegrams. (Otago Witness, 25 October 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1873
ANNIVERSARY DAY. (Star, 17 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Dec 1873
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 29 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 30 March 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 April 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1874
ANNUAL LICENSING MEETING. (Star, 28 April 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1874
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 May 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 25 May 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 06 June 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Sept 1874
ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC. XXIII. GENTE HERMOSA (Continued). (Daily Southern Cross, 14 September 1874) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1874
CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION. (Star, 13 November 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1874
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 16 November 1874) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Nov 1874
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 17 November 1874) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Nov 1874
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 19 November 1874) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Nov 1874
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 21 November 1874) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 December 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 10 December 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Dec 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Timaru Herald, 18 December 1874) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Dec 1874
THE Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1874. (Otago Daily Times, 19 December 1874) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 26 December 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 09 January 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jan 1875
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 20 January 1875) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 23 January 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1875
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 05 February 1875) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Mar 1875
Telegrams. (Otago Witness, 27 March 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Aug 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 07 August 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
6 Oct 1875
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Timaru Herald, 06 October 1875) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Feb 1876
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 23 February 1876) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1876
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Colonist, 24 February 1876) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Jun 1876
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 05 June 1876) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jun 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 June 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1876
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Daily Southern Cross, 17 October 1876) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1876
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 29 November 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Jan 1877
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 27 January 1877) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Feb 1877
EUROPEAN CALOGRAMS. (Waikato Times, 15 February 1877) Waikato Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1877
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 01 March 1877) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Mar 1877
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 03 March 1877) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1877
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Timaru Herald, 13 March 1877) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1877
NORTH OTAGO RACES. (Timaru Herald, 06 April 1877) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1877
MAGISTRATES' COURTS. (Timaru Herald, 18 July 1877) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Aug 1877
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 21 August 1877) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1877
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 31 August 1877) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1878
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 01 January 1878) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Hawke's Bay Herald, 19 January 1878) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Feb 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 26 February 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1878
SNORTING. (Timaru Herald, 09 March 1878) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 March 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1878
Untitled (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 02 April 1878) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Apr 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Hawke's Bay Herald, 04 April 1878) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 12 April 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Apr 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Auckland Star, 20 April 1878) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Apr 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Auckland Star, 23 April 1878) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Auckland Star, 25 April 1878) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1878
SUPREME COURT. (Timaru Herald, 13 June 1878) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jul 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 01 July 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 18 July 1878) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Aug 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 13 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Aug 1878
LOCAL AMD GENERAL. (Star, 17 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1878
OPENING OF THE CHRISTCHURCH AND DUNEDIN RAILWAY. (Star, 07 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Sept 1878
Untitled (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 17 September 1878) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Sept 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 30 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 21 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Nov 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 12 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 29 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 04 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Dec 1878
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 09 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 27 December 1878) 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.

“Black & White”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch