How many records does the archive hold?

72,593 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 Grand Hotel”, the shelf

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

2,034 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
30 Jan 1891
Local & General. (Star, 30 January 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 21 March 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Mar 1891
LOCAL AND GNEERAL (Wanganui Chronicle, 26 March 1891) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Mar 1891
THE EASTER ENCAMPMENT. (North Otago Times, 28 March 1891) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1891
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 01 May 1891) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 May 1891
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 02 May 1891) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jun 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 06 June 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 11 June 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1891
THE HANMER PLAINS AND HOT SPRINGS. (Otago Daily Times, 13 June 1891) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1891
LICENSING MEETINGS. (Auckland Star, 18 June 1891) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jul 1891
STATION ACCOMMODATION. (Evening Post, 09 July 1891) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Aug 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 08 August 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Aug 1891
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Ellesmere Guardian, 15 August 1891) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Aug 1891
Local & General (Star, 26 August 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1891
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 25 September 1891) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1891
Local & General. (Star, 28 September 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Oct 1891
A "CENTRAL" POLLING-PLACE. (Evening Post, 31 October 1891) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Nov 1891
A CHRISTIAN APOLOGIST. (Auckland Star, 16 November 1891) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1891
NEW ZEALAND BOWLING ASSOCIATION. (Otago Witness, 17 December 1891) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1891
SOOiAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 29 December 1891) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Mar 1892
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 03 March 1892) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1892
Evenig Post. SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1892. HUMILITY IN HOUSE BUILDING. (Evening Post, 05 March 1892) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
11 Mar 1892
Local & General. (Star, 11 March 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1892
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 29 March 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1892
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 05 May 1892) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1892
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 July 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jul 1892
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 July 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jul 1892
Untitled (Auckland Star, 08 July 1892) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1892
Local & General. (Star, 18 July 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Aug 1892
THE TEMPERANCE IMPOSTOR. (Evening Post, 24 August 1892) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1892
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 18 October 1892) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1892
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 27 October 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1892
Local & General. (Star, 02 November 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1892
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 08 November 1892) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Nov 1892
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 14 November 1892) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Nov 1892
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 22 November 1892) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Nov 1892
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1892. (Auckland Star, 23 November 1892) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
6 Dec 1892
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 December 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1892
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 December 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Dec 1892
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 19 December 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jan 1893
A "CLEAN " COLONY. (Evening Post, 06 January 1893) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1893
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN STATE SCHOOLS. (Auckland Star, 13 January 1893) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1893
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS. (Otago Daily Times, 24 January 1893) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Feb 1893
BOWLINE. (Otago Witness, 02 February 1893) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Feb 1893
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 09 February 1893) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 5 places
23 Feb 1893
DEATHS. (Auckland Star, 23 February 1893) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1893
The Star. {PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 1893. NEWS AND NOTE'S (Hawera & Normanby Star, 11 March 1893) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1893
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 16 March 1893) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1893
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 March 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1893
Latest Locals. (Star, 21 March 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Mar 1893
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 23 March 1893) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Mar 1893
Untitled (Hawke's Bay Herald, 25 March 1893) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Apr 1893
THE VOLUNTEERS. (Star, 01 April 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Apr 1893
A FLAT CONTRADICTION. (Evening Post, 24 April 1893) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1893
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 18 May 1893) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 May 1893
Local & General. (Star, 23 May 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jun 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 03 June 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jun 1893
Local & General. (Star, 23 June 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jul 1893
Local & General. (Star, 03 July 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1893
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 August 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1893
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 31 August 1893) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1893
Local & General. (Star, 01 September 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 September 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1893
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 September 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1893
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1893
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Nov 1893
Local & General. (Star, 02 November 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1893
BANDS CONTEST. (Star, 06 November 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Dec 1893
Local & General. (Star, 07 December 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1893
Local & General. (Star, 08 December 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jan 1894
Local & General. (Star, 04 January 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jan 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 22 January 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 06 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Feb 1894
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 14 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Feb 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 17 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Feb 1894
Local & General. (Star, 21 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Feb 1894
NOTES BY DEMON. (Otago Witness, 22 February 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1894
Local & General. (Star, 24 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1894
Local & General. (Star, 02 March 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 March 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Mar 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 31 March 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Apr 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 April 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1894
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 12 April 1894) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Apr 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Otago Daily Times, 19 April 1894) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 May 1894
Local & General. (Star, 26 May 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jun 1894
Local & General. (Star, 09 June 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 20 June 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jun 1894
Local & General. (Star, 23 June 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1894
Evening Post. MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1894 THE EX-SPEAKER. (Evening Post, 25 June 1894) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jun 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 June 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jun 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 30 June 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jul 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 July 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 04 July 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1894
THE ELLESMERE GUARDIAN. WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1894. (Ellesmere Guardian, 04 July 1894) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jul 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 July 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jul 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 07 July 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jul 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 09 July 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jul 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 July 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jul 1894
DEATHS. (Auckland Star, 12 July 1894) Auckland 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.

“The Grand Hotel”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch