How many records does the archive hold?

67,402 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.

“"Gloucester"”, the shelf

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

3,314 records matching 98 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 1870s
8 Aug 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Aug 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 12 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Aug 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 13 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
3 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 07 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 09 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Sept 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 16 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 20 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 26 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 30 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 30 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 01 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 02 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 04 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 09 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 18 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 31 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 04 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Nov 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 December 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1879
Geological Map of the Provinces of Canterbury and Westland, New Zealand, by Julius von Haast PH. D., F.R.S., Provincial Geologist by Haast, Julius von, 1822–1887 · Lincoln University Living Heritage: Tikaka Tuku Iho · Lincoln University
2 Jan 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 January 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1879
EAST CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 13 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Mar 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 20 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1879
EDUCATION RETURNS. (Star, 24 March 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
8 Apr 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 April 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Apr 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 14 April 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jun 1879
HOPE OF CHRISTCHURCH LODGE. (Star, 18 June 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Jul 1879
The Otago Daily Times. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE OTAGO GUARDIAN. SATURDAY, JULY 28, 1879. (Otago Daily Times, 26 July 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Thames Star, 08 September 1879) Thames Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1879
CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 09 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1879
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 29 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Oct 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 09 October 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
11 Dec 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 December 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 December 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
1 Jan 1880
Seeing the sights - Dallington Bridge 2013 Photo Hunt · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
8 May 1880
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 May 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 May 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 May 1880) 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.

“"Gloucester"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch