How many records does the archive hold?

65,200 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.

“Four Square”, the shelf

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

1,543 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 1900s
8 Nov 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Nov 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 13 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Nov 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 13 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Nov 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 15 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Nov 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Nov 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Nov 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 18 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Nov 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 19 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Nov 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 13 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Dec 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1902
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 22 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
27 Dec 1902
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
30 Dec 1902
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 30 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Jan 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jan 1903
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
3 Jan 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jan 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
6 Jan 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Jan 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 08 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Jan 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jan 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 15 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jan 1903
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jan 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jan 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 20 January 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 February 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
20 Feb 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 20 February 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 05 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1903
SPORT AND PASTIME. (Evening Post, 14 March 1903) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Mar 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 March 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Apr 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 04 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
4 Apr 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Apr 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 11 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Apr 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 8 (Star, 14 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Apr 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Apr 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 20 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 22 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Apr 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 29 April 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 May 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 May 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 12 May 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 May 1903
EMPIRE DAY. (Star, 25 May 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jun 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 June 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 June 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1903
AN ATTRACTIVE EXHIBITION. (Otago Witness, 10 June 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Jun 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 13 June 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Jun 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 June 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 June 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
25 Jun 1903
Untitled (Mataura Ensign 25-6-1903) Mataura Ensign · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jul 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Ashburton Guardian, 09 July 1903) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jul 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 22 July 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Aug 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 05 August 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
12 Aug 1903
OMNIUM GATHERUM. (Otago Witness, 12 August 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Sept 1903
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 12 September 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Sept 1903
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 21 September 1903) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Sept 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 22 September 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Oct 1903
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Oct 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 12 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Oct 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1903
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 23 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 29 October 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Nov 1903
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Nov 1903
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 17 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 25 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 November 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 December 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1903
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 December 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 December 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1903
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 December 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jan 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 04 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jan 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jan 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 11 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 12 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jan 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 21 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Jan 1904
CYCLING NOTES. (Otago Witness, 27 January 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
29 Jan 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Jan 1904
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 30 January 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Feb 1904
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 13 February 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Feb 1904
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 February 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Feb 1904
TABLE TALK, (Otago Witness, 24 February 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 March 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Mar 1904
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 March 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 16 April 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
17 May 1904
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 17 May 1904) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 May 1904
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 23 May 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 May 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jun 1904
THE KENNEL (Otago Witness, 01 June 1904) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1904
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 17 June 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jul 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 30 July 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Sept 1904
Two New Zealanders Abroad. (New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, 01 September 1904) New Zealand Illustrated Magazine · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1904
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 23 September 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 September 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1904
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 September 1904) 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.

“Four Square”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch