How many records does the archive hold?

70,536 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 Lyttelton Club”, the shelf

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

1,584 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 1880s
13 Nov 1888
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (West Coast Times, 13 November 1888) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1888
Local & General. (Star, 20 November 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1888
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Timaru Herald, 30 November 1888) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Dec 1888
Local & General. (Star, 01 December 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Dec 1888
Local & General. (Star, 06 December 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Dec 1888
THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1888. (Otago Daily Times, 15 December 1888) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1889
Latest Locals. (Star, 18 January 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Mar 1889
NEWS OF THE MONTH. (Auckland Star, 23 March 1889) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Apr 1889
Latest Locals. (Star, 20 April 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1889
FOOTBALL. (Star, 16 May 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 May 1889
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 17 May 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1889
FOOTBALL. (Star, 20 May 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1889
Local & General. (Star, 24 May 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1889
OTHER MATCHES. (Star, 03 June 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jun 1889
Local & General. (Star, 28 June 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Jun 1889
The Social World. (Observer, 29 June 1889) Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1889
West Coast Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1889. (West Coast Times, 10 September 1889) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Sept 1889
Local & General. (Star, 13 September 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1889
Latest Locals. (Star, 16 September 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1889
Local &.General. (Star, 20 September 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1889
Latest Locals. (Star, 23 September 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1889
Latest Locals. (Star, 26 September 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Sept 1889
A RAILWAY TIMBER GEIEVANCE. (Evening Post, 27 September 1889) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1889
Latest Locals. (Star, 22 October 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Nov 1889
Latest Locals. (Star, 21 November 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1890s
20 Jan 1890
LOCAL NEWS. (Star, 20 January 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jan 1890
The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 1890. (Auckland Star, 20 January 1890) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1890
Local News. (Star, 28 January 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Feb 1890
Local News. (Star, 04 February 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Feb 1890
Local News. (Star, 17 February 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1890
Local News. (Star, 18 February 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1890
Local News. (Star, 05 March 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1890
Local & General. (Star, 22 March 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Apr 1890
Peninsula News. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 01 April 1890) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Apr 1890
Sweating Commission at Auckland (Poverty Bay Herald, 01 April 1890) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1890
TABLE TALK. (Auckland Star, 05 April 1890) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Apr 1890
Latest Locals. (Star, 14 April 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1890
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 05 June 1890) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Jul 1890
District and General. (Bush Advocate, 26 July 1890) Bush Advocate · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Jul 1890
West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JULY 26, 1890. (West Coast Times, 26 July 1890) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jul 1890
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Wanganui Chronicle, 28 July 1890) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Jul 1890
TALK OF THE DAY. (Otago Witness, 31 July 1890) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Aug 1890
Local & General. (Star, 08 August 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Aug 1890
Latest Locals. (Star, 25 August 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Aug 1890
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Ashburton Guardian, 29 August 1890) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1890
Local & General, (Star, 20 September 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Oct 1890
Latest locals. (Star, 15 October 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1890
Latest Locals. (Star, 15 November 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1890
FERGUSON'S PATENT PIPE. (Otago Daily Times, 03 December 1890) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
9 Dec 1890
Telegraphic News. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 09 December 1890) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Dec 1890
The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1890 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 12 December 1890) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1890
Latest Locals. (Star, 24 December 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Dec 1890
Local & General. (Star, 31 December 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1891
Local & General. (Star, 09 January 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1891
Local & General. (Star, 28 January 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1891
Local & General. (Star, 30 January 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 02 February 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 28 February 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Mar 1891
Local & General. (Star, 25 March 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Apr 1891
FOOTBALL. (Star, 09 April 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1891
FOOTBALL. (Star, 27 April 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1891
Local & General. (Star, 05 May 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 May 1891
FOOTBALL. (Star, 11 May 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 15 May 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 20 May 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1891
A Latest Locals. (Star, 23 May 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1891
Local & General. (Star, 25 May 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1891
Local & General. (Star, 17 June 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1891
FOOTBALL. (Star, 25 June 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jun 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 26 June 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Jul 1891
STATION ACCOMMODATION. (Evening Post, 09 July 1891) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jul 1891
ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. (Auckland Star, 17 July 1891) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jul 1891
Local & General. (Star, 25 July 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Aug 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 01 August 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Aug 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 07 August 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Aug 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 08 August 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Aug 1891
Local & General (Star, 26 August 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1891
Local & General. (Star, 28 August 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1891
Local & General. (Star, 03 September 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Sept 1891
The Daily Telegraph. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1891. (Daily Telegraph, 16 September 1891) Daily Telegraph · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
3 Oct 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 03 October 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
9 Jan 1892
Latest Locals. (Star, 09 January 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1892
Local & General. (Star, 05 February 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1892
Latest Locals. (Star, 08 February 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Feb 1892
Local & General. (Star, 15 February 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1892
Latest Locals. (Star, 16 February 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1892
Local & General. (Star, 25 February 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
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
9 Mar 1892
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Tuapeka Times, 09 March 1892) Tuapeka Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1892
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 10 March 1892) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1892
FOOTBALL. (Star, 24 March 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Mar 1892
HARBOUR BOARD. (Star, 31 March 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
28 Apr 1892
Local & General. (Star, 28 April 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Apr 1892
FOOTBALL. (Star, 29 April 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 May 1892
FOOTBALL. (Star, 26 May 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 May 1892
THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, MAY 31, 1892. (Otago Daily Times, 31 May 1892) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jun 1892
Latest Locals. (Star, 18 June 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place

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 Lyttelton Club”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch