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.

“City Church Christchurch”, the shelf

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

3,380 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
23 Jul 1885
Local & General (Star, 23 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Jul 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jul 1885
Local & General (Star, 27 July 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Aug 1885
FORMER EXHIBITIONS. THE NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION OF 1865. (Evening Post, 03 August 1885) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
11 Aug 1885
Untitled (Timaru Herald, 11 August 1885) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Aug 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 August 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 August 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 19 August 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Aug 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 21 August 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 27 August 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1885
Untitled (Timaru Herald, 04 September 1885) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 09 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1885
Local & General. (Star, 11 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 22 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
24 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
25 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Sept 1885
Local & General. (Star, 28 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 03 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Oct 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 05 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Oct 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 06 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Oct 1885
The Otago Daily Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1885. (Otago Daily Times, 13 October 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1885
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 17 October 1885) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Oct 1885
A COLONIAL ELYSIUM. (Bruce Herald, 27 October 1885) Bruce Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Oct 1885
Latest Locals. (Star, 28 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Oct 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 30 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1885
Local & General. (Star, 16 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Nov 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Nov 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 26 November 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
26 Nov 1885
OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SHOW. (Otago Daily Times, 26 November 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 01 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 02 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1885
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 04 December 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1885
Latest Locals. (Star, 05 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1885
VOLUNTEER FIELD DAY. (Star, 17 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Dec 1885
published daily.) MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1885, THE RIVALS. (Wanganui Herald, 21 December 1885) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 December 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 12 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jan 1886
TELEGRAMS. (Southland Times, 19 January 1886) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jan 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 January 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Feb 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Feb 1886
Latest Locals. (Star, 13 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Feb 1886
OPENING- OF ST. JOSEPH'S CATHEDRAL, DUNEDIN. (Tuapeka Times, 17 February 1886) Tuapeka Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Feb 1886
The Magdalen Asylum. (Star, 19 February 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Feb 1886
THE CARDINAL ARCHBISHOP OP SYDNEY IN CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 26 February 1886) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Mar 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 05 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1886
Local & General. (Star, 09 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Mar 1886
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Apr 1886
The Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1886. (Otago Daily Times, 10 April 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
14 Apr 1886
THE OTOGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1886. (Otago Daily Times, 14 April 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
24 Apr 1886
Births, Marriages and Deaths. (Colonist, 24 April 1886) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1886
Christchurch Afloat. (Southland Times, 17 May 1886) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
17 May 1886
GREAT FLOOD IN CANTERBURY. (Colonist, 17 May 1886) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
17 May 1886
THE SYDENHAM ELECTION, (Evening Post, 17 May 1886) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1886
The Floods. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 18 May 1886) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 May 1886
FLOODS IN CANTERBURY. (North Otago Times, 18 May 1886) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 18 May 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1886
Great Floods in Christchurch. (Manawatu Standard, 18 May 1886) Manawatu Standard · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 May 1886
STORMS. (Auckland Star, 22 May 1886) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
12 Jun 1886
THE TREATMENT OF UNCONVICTED PRISONERS. (Evening Post, 12 June 1886) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jun 1886
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times, 12 June 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1886
Latest Locals. (Star, 25 June 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jul 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 10 July 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 10 July 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1886
The Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, JULY 16, 1886. (Otago Daily Times, 16 July 1886) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1886
CHRISTCHURCH LIEDERTAFEL. (Star, 19 July 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jul 1886
THE GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL. (Evening Post, 28 July 1886) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Jul 1886
Page 3 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 28 July 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Aug 1886
TABLE TALK. (Auckland Star, 06 August 1886) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Aug 1886
The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 1886. (Timaru Herald, 09 August 1886) Timaru Herald · 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.

“City Church Christchurch”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch