How many records does the archive hold?

71,563 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.

“Cathedral Square Market”, the shelf

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

807 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 1900s
13 Sept 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 September 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1905
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 September 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 September 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 20 September 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Sept 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 September 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 October 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 October 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 October 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Oct 1905
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 October 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Oct 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 October 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 28 October 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Nov 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 November 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1905
IMPLEMENTS, MACHINERY, &c. I (Otago Witness, 29 November 1905) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Feb 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 07 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Feb 1906
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Feb 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Feb 1906
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Mar 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 24 March 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Apr 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 26 April 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 May 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1906
Page 4 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 23 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
2 Jun 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 02 June 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 June 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jun 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 16 June 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jul 1906
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 July 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1906
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 18 July 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1906
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 July 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Jul 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 July 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Jul 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 July 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Aug 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 August 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 August 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 14 August 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Aug 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 17 August 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Aug 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 August 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Aug 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 August 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1906
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 October 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1906
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 06 October 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1906
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 October 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Oct 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 11 October 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Oct 1906
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 20 October 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Oct 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 October 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Nov 1906
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 November 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Nov 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 12 November 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1906
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 December 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1906
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 10 December 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Feb 1907
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 February 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1907
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 February 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Feb 1907
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 February 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1907
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 February 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Feb 1907
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 February 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Feb 1907
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 February 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1907
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 February 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1907
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 09 March 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1907
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 13 April 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
15 Apr 1907
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 April 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Apr 1907
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 April 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Apr 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 April 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
13 May 1907
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 May 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1907
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 May 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1907
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 22 May 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1907
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 May 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 May 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 31 May 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Jun 1907
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 June 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 June 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1907
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 June 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jul 1907
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 July 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 July 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 July 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Jul 1907
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 July 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Jul 1907
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 31 July 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jul 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 31 July 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 August 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Aug 1907
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 August 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1907
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 31 August 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1907
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 04 September 1907) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Sept 1907
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 04 September 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1907
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 07 September 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 26 September 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 18 October 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Nov 1907
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 09 November 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Nov 1907
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 November 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1907
CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 03 December 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Dec 1907
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 07 December 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 02 January 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Jan 1908
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 January 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Feb 1908
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Feb 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Feb 1908
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1908
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 26 February 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Feb 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Feb 1908
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 29 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Mar 1908
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 March 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Mar 1908
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 March 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 30 March 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Apr 1908
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 04 April 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 07 May 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 June 1908) 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.

“Cathedral Square Market”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch