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.

“Smith and Smith”, the shelf

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

8,705 records matching 99 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 1910s
24 Dec 1915
BACK FROM THE WAR (Otago Daily Times 24-12-1915) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1916
METHODIST CHURCH (Otago Daily Times 1-3-1916) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1916
SPORTS AND PASTIMES (Ashburton Guardian, 12 January 1916) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1916
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 18 January 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1916
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times 19-1-1916) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1916
THE ROLL OF HONOUR (Otago Daily Times 27-1-1916) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Feb 1916
UNIVERSITY SENATE (Evening Post, 04 February 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1916
THE ROLL OF HONOUR (Otago Daily Times 2-11-1916) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1916
FIRST READING OF STATIONS. (Ashburton Guardian, 01 March 1916) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1916
METHODISM (Evening Post, 01 March 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1916
THE ROLL OF HONOUR (Otago Daily Times 3-8-1916) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Mar 1916
BOWLING. (Ashburton Guardian, 20 March 1916) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Mar 1916
CRICKET. (Otago Daily Times 23-3-1916) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1916
RURAL WORKERS (Evening Post, 27 March 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Apr 1916
BOWLING (Otago Daily Times 4-1-1916) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Apr 1916
Page 1 Advertisements Column 9 (Evening Post, 20 April 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1916
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Evening Post, 28 April 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 May 1916
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 04 May 1916) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 May 1916
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Ashburton Guardian, 16 May 1916) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1916
CHESS. (Grey River Argus, 29 May 1916) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1916
The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1916. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 30 May 1916) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1916
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 13 June 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Jun 1916
NEW ZEALAND ARMY (Evening Post, 13 June 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1916
Y.M.C.A. WAR FUND. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 20 June 1916) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jun 1916
THE SOCIAL SPHERE (Observer, 24 June 1916) Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jun 1916
EDUCATION BOARD. (Ashburton Guardian, 29 June 1916) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1916
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 04 July 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jul 1916
NEW ZEALAND ARMY (Evening Post, 08 July 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jul 1916
LIST ISSUED TO-DAY (Evening Post, 13 July 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1916
LAST NIGHT'S LIST (Evening Post, 18 July 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jul 1916
NEW ZEALAND ARMY (Evening Post, 20 July 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1916
THE ROLL OF HONOUR (Otago Daily Times 21-7-1916) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jul 1916
NEW ZEALAND ARMY (Evening Post, 22 July 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Jul 1916
LAST NIGHT'S LIST (Evening Post, 25 July 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jul 1916
TO-DAY'S HEAVY LIST (Evening Post, 27 July 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jul 1916
IP-DAY'S CASUALTY LIST (Evening Post, 28 July 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1916
LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 03 August 1916) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 5 places
3 Aug 1916
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 03 August 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Aug 1916
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 07 August 1916) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Aug 1916
Page 1 Advertisements Column 8 (Evening Post, 10 August 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Aug 1916
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Evening Post, 21 August 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Aug 1916
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 21 August 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1916
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times 31-8-1916) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1916
OBITUARY. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 01 September 1916) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1916
CRICKET. (Otago Daily Times 9-3-1916) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1916
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 16 September 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1916
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS (Hawera & Normanby Star, 03 October 1916) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1916
ROLL OF_HONOR. (Poverty Bay Herald, 14 October 1916) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1916
ROLL OF HONOUR (Otago Daily Times 14-10-1916) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1916
ROLL OF HONOUR (Otago Daily Times 21-10-1916) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1916
ROLL OF HONOUR (Otago Daily Times 23-10-1916) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Nov 1916
PERSONAL ITEMS. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 10 November 1916) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Nov 1916
ROLL OF HONOUR (Otago Daily Times 11-10-1916) Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Nov 1916
ANGLICAN THEOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS (Otago Daily Times 14-11-1916) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Nov 1916
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 22 November 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1916
WELLINGTON RECRUITING DISTRICT (No. 5) (Evening Post, 24 November 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Dec 1916
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Evening Post, 20 December 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Dec 1916
RESULT OP THE DRAWING (Evening Post, 22 December 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1916
NEWS AND NOTES. (NZ Truth, 23 December 1916) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1917
Marshland School photograph, 1917 Smyth family collection · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
2 Jan 1917
PERSONAL. (Feilding Star, 02 January 1917) Feilding Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1917
VISITORS IN AKAROA. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 03 January 1917) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1917
SICK AND WOUNDED (Evening Post, 18 January 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Feb 1917
WELLINGTON RECRUITING DISTRICT (No. 5) (Evening Post, 13 February 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1917
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 15 February 1917) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1917
PERSONAL PARS (Grey River Argus, 20 February 1917) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Feb 1917
OBITUARY. (Colonist, 21 February 1917) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1917
THE FINAL CALL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 01 March 1917) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1917
MARAMA'S COMPLEMENT (Evening Post, 05 March 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1917
WELLINGTON RECRUITING DISTRICT (No. 5) (Evening Post, 14 March 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Mar 1917
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Ellesmere Guardian, 28 March 1917) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Apr 1917
SICK AND WOUNDED (Evening Post, 04 April 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Apr 1917
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 24 April 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1917
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Grey River Argus, 30 April 1917) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1917
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 01 May 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1917
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (NZ Truth, 05 May 1917) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 May 1917
8530 MEN CALLED UP (Evening Post, 08 May 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
12 May 1917
RETURNED HOME (Evening Post, 12 May 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1917
Untitled (Grey River Argus, 24 May 1917) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1917
WELLINGTON RECRUITING DISTRICT (No. 5) (Evening Post, 06 June 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jun 1917
MILITARY SERVICE. (Hawera & Normanby Star, 06 June 1917) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1917
EIGHTH BALLOT (Grey River Argus, 07 June 1917) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1917
THE CALL TO ARMS. (Colonist, 07 June 1917) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jun 1917
RETURNED HOME (Evening Post, 12 June 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1917
TROTTING (NZ Truth, 16 June 1917) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jun 1917
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 19 June 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
20 Jun 1917
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 20 June 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jun 1917
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 22 June 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
28 Jun 1917
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 28 June 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jun 1917
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 29 June 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jun 1917
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 30 June 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1917
THE NINTH BALLOT. (Wanganui Chronicle, 04 July 1917) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1917
NEW ZEALAND ARMY (Evening Post, 04 July 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1917
SICK AND WOUNDED (Evening Post, 04 July 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jul 1917
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 09 July 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1917
NEW ZEALAND ARMY (Evening Post, 10 July 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jul 1917
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 12 July 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1917
SICK AND WOUNDED (Evening Post, 19 July 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1917
ROLL OF HONOUR (Otago Daily Times 21-7-1917) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1917
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 14 August 1917) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · 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.

“Smith and Smith”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch