How many records does the archive hold?

69,585 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.

“City hair”, the shelf

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

867 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
21 Nov 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 November 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 November 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1908
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 November 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 December 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 05 December 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Dec 1908
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 December 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Dec 1908
D.L.F. Old Writers' Week. (Otago Witness, 09 December 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1908
CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 22 December 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 December 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Dec 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 30 December 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1908
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Colonist, 31 December 1908) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jan 1909
LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 05 January 1909) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 09 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1909
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1909
TABLE TALK (Otago Witness, 20 January 1909) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 23 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jan 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jan 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 26 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Jan 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Feb 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 20 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 27 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 27 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1909
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Mar 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1909
Social Gossip. (New Zealand Free Lance, 13 March 1909) New Zealand Free Lance · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 April 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1909
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 06 April 1909) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1909
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 April 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1909
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 09 April 1909) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 April 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Apr 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 April 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Apr 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 April 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1909
APPLICATIONS FOB PATENTS. (Progress, 01 May 1909) Progress · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 08 May 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 May 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 May 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1909
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 13 May 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 May 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 May 1909
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 May 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 May 1909
TABLE TALK (Otago Witness, 26 May 1909) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 02 June 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jun 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 19 June 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jul 1909
TABLE TALK (Otago Witness, 28 July 1909) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jul 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 28 July 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Aug 1909
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 11 August 1909) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 August 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Aug 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 August 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Aug 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 August 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Aug 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 August 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Aug 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 August 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
11 Sept 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 11 September 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1909
Page 11 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 18 September 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Sept 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 22 September 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1909
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 25 September 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1909
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 December 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1909
TELEGRAMS. CLEANLINESS OF OUR TRAMS. (Evening Post, 04 December 1909) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 December 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Dec 1909
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 December 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Dec 1909
Taranaki Herald. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1909. PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES. (Taranaki Herald, 28 December 1909) Taranaki Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1910s
5 Jan 1910
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Evening Post, 05 January 1910) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1910
Untitled (Evening Post, 13 January 1910) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Mar 1910
THE SOCIAL SPHERE (Observer, 26 March 1910) Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1910
Page 9 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 27 December 1910) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1911
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Feilding Star, 16 January 1911) Feilding Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
20 Jun 1911
PERSONAL NOTES FROM HOME. (Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, 20 June 1911) Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Sept 1911
THE CITY. (Ashburton Guardian, 05 September 1911) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Sept 1911
NEWS OF THE DAY. (Colonist, 07 September 1911) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Oct 1911
PERSONAL. (Ashburton Guardian, 05 October 1911) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1911
WOMEN IN PRINT. (Evening Post, 08 November 1911) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1911
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Colonist, 14 December 1911) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jul 1913
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 30 July 1913) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Oct 1913
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 04 October 1913) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Oct 1913
The Akaroa Mail. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1913 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 29 October 1913) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1914
THE SAD JOY-RIDE. (NZ Truth, 18 July 1914) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Oct 1915
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 26 October 1915) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1915
PASSING NOTES. (Otago Daily Times 20-11-1915) Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Feb 1917
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 15 February 1917) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1917
LOCAL km GENERAL HEWS. (Hawera & Normanby Star, 23 May 1917) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1917
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 24 September 1917) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1918
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Ashburton Guardian, 27 February 1918) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1918
WOMEN IN PRINT. (Evening Post, 26 April 1918) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Nov 1918
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Evening Post, 14 November 1918) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1920s
18 Aug 1920
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 18 August 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1920
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Ashburton Guardian, 25 October 1920) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jan 1921
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Hawera & Normanby Star, 06 January 1921) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Apr 1921
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Evening Post, 01 April 1921) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1921
LOCAL AND GENRAL. (Ashburton Guardian, 15 September 1921) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1922
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 26 April 1922) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Dec 1922
LOCAL AND QENERAL (Evening Post, 18 December 1922) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Jul 1923
AN AWFUL EXPERIENCE" (NZ Truth, 21 July 1923) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1923
BRUTAL ASSAULT AT BURWOOD (NZ Truth, 08 September 1923) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1923
WOMEN IN PRINT. (Evening Post, 27 December 1923) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1924
WOMEN IN PRINT. (Evening Post, 16 February 1924) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Apr 1924
WOMEN IN PRINT. (Evening Post, 15 April 1924) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1924
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 13 September 1924) NZ Truth · 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.

“City hair”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch