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 95 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 1920s
1920
Queen Carnival in Sheldon Park Local people and functions · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
1920
Photograph: Constance Lovell-Smith by Lovell-Smith Studio · Canterbury Museum · no. 983383 · Canterbury Museum
1920
Photograph: Constance Lovell-Smith by Lovell-Smith Studio · Canterbury Museum · no. 983382 · Canterbury Museum
1920
Photograph of William Arnold Pattison by Rodgers, Robert · NZmuseums · Te Hikoi Museum · Te Hikoi Museum
3 Jan 1920
RIFLE SHOOTING (Evening Post, 03 January 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jan 1920
CRICKET. (Observer, 03 January 1920) Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1920
FRIENDLY BOWL" MATCH (Evening Post, 08 January 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1920
Untitled (Grey River Argus, 09 January 1920) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jan 1920
DOMINION TOURNAMENT (Evening Post, 10 January 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1920
DOMINION TOURNEY (Evening Post, 14 January 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1920
BOWLING (Evening Post, 15 January 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1920
BOWLING. (Marlborough Express, 15 January 1920) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1920
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Grey River Argus, 28 January 1920) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Feb 1920
Page 10 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 09 February 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Feb 1920
WOMEN IN PRINT. (Evening Post, 10 February 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1920
Page 12 Advertisements Column 9 (Evening Post, 11 February 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Feb 1920
FOUND DROWNED. (Colonist, 14 February 1920) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Feb 1920
BODY FOUND IN THE AVON. (Marlborough Express, 14 February 1920) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1920
FURNITURE TRADES (Evening Post, 26 February 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1920
THE SOCIAL SPHERE (Observer, 28 February 1920) Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1920
Page 14 Advertisements Column 3 (Evening Post, 28 February 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Mar 1920
RIFLE SHOOTING (Evening Post, 03 March 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Mar 1920
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 04 March 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1920
BOWLING. (Ashburton Guardian, 11 March 1920) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1920
MADDISON TROPHY. (Ashburton Guardian, 19 March 1920) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 03 April 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Grey River Argus, 13 April 1920) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1920
OUR ADVERTISERS (Grey River Argus, 13 April 1920) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Grey River Argus, 14 April 1920) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Apr 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Grey River Argus, 15 April 1920) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Grey River Argus, 16 April 1920) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Grey River Argus, 19 April 1920) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Apr 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Grey River Argus, 20 April 1920) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Grey River Argus, 21 April 1920) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1920
OUR ADVERTISERS (Grey River Argus, 21 April 1920) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Grey River Argus, 22 April 1920) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Apr 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Grey River Argus, 24 April 1920) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 May 1920
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Ashburton Guardian, 04 May 1920) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1920
CLERK AND ARTISAN. (Poverty Bay Herald, 10 May 1920) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 May 1920
FOOTBALL. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 11 May 1920) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1920
Page 1 Advertisements Column 8 (Evening Post, 22 May 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1920
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Taranaki Daily News 22-5-1920) Taranaki Daily News · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1920
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times 25-5-1920) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jun 1920
CANTERBURY PARK TROTTING CLUB. (Ashburton Guardian, 01 June 1920) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1920
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Ashburton Guardian, 05 June 1920) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jun 1920
FOOTBALL. (Taranaki Daily News 26-6-1920) Taranaki Daily News · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jun 1920
POULTRY SHOW (Evening Post, 29 June 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jul 1920
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Evening Post, 01 July 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jul 1920
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Poverty Bay Herald, 02 July 1920) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jul 1920
MARRIAGE, (Hawera & Normanby Star, 15 July 1920) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1920
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 16 July 1920) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Aug 1920
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Marlborough Express, 18 August 1920) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Aug 1920
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times 18-8-1920) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1920
COOK ISLANDS (Evening Post, 19 August 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1920
TRIP OF THE MOKOIA (Grey River Argus, 28 August 1920) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1920
FOOTBALL (Grey River Argus, 30 August 1920) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1920
CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP. (Otago Daily Times 30-8-1920) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1920
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 08 September 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1920
Page 10 Advertisements Column 2 (Evening Post, 09 September 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1920
PERSONAL. (Taranaki Daily News 13-9-1920) Taranaki Daily News · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1920
Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1920. LOCAL AND GENERAL (Ashburton Guardian, 25 September 1920) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1920
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 07 October 1920) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1920
LAND FOR SOLDIERS. (Ashburton Guardian, 28 October 1920) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1920
LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 29 October 1920) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1920
THE SOCIAL SPHERE (Observer, 20 November 1920) Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1920
Page 5 Advertisements Column 6 (Evening Post, 26 November 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1920
AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 26 November 1920) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1920
SPORTING. (Taranaki Daily News 17-12-1920) Taranaki Daily News · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Dec 1920
PERSONAL. (Ashburton Guardian, 18 December 1920) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Dec 1920
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Evening Post, 28 December 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1920
Untitled (Evening Post, 31 December 1920) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1921
BOWLING TOURNEY (Evening Post, 11 January 1921) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1921
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON'S RESULTS (Evening Post, 13 January 1921) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1921
PAIRS MATCHES (Evening Post, 20 January 1921) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1921
BOWLING (Evening Post, 21 January 1921) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1921
THE TIMARU TRAGEDY (NZ Truth, 12 February 1921) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1921
THE FRIENDLY BOWL. (Evening Post, 07 March 1921) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1921
OAKLAND CARS. (Ashburton Guardian, 16 March 1921) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1921
BAND CONTEST. (Ashburton Guardian, 16 March 1921) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1921
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (NZ Truth, 14 May 1921) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1921
Page 16 Advertisements Column 6 (Evening Post, 25 May 1921) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1921
Page 5 Advertisements Column 6 (Evening Post, 27 May 1921) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Aug 1921
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 13 August 1921) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1921
WOMEN IN PRINT. (Evening Post, 02 September 1921) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Sept 1921
Page 5 Advertisements Column 6 (Evening Post, 05 September 1921) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1921
Page 16 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 27 October 1921) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Oct 1921
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Ellesmere Guardian, 29 October 1921) Ellesmere Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Nov 1921
BILLIARDS (Evening Post, 21 November 1921) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Dec 1921
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Evening Post, 06 December 1921) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1922
Belfast Tennis Club Suburban B Grade Local clubs and sports · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
16 Jan 1922
THE DOMINION TOURNEY (Evening Post, 16 January 1922) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1922
Page 8 Advertisements Column 9 (Evening Post, 21 January 1922) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1922
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 21 January 1922) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1922
Page 10 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 24 January 1922) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1922
Page 10 Advertisements Column 2 (Evening Post, 24 January 1922) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Feb 1922
OTHER EVENTS (Evening Post, 06 February 1922) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Feb 1922
OTHER EVENTS (Evening Post, 07 February 1922) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1922
WOMEN IN PRINT. (Evening Post, 08 February 1922) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Feb 1922
OTHER EVENTS (Evening Post, 09 February 1922) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Feb 1922
CHRISTCHURCH TROTS. (Hawera & Normanby Star, 13 February 1922) Hawera & Normanby 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.

“Smith and Smith”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch