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.

“Merchant”, the shelf

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

1,522 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
19 Nov 1881
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Auckland Star, 19 November 1881) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1881
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Poverty Bay Herald, 10 December 1881) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1881
MUSICAL AND THEATRICAL NOTES. (Otago Daily Times, 10 December 1881) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1881
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Poverty Bay Herald, 14 December 1881) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1882
Untitled (New Zealand Tablet, 27 January 1882) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1882
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 15 February 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1882
The Star. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1882. (Star, 24 February 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Apr 1882
THE EXHIBITION. (Star, 11 April 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1882
Local & General. (Star, 25 May 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jun 1882
The Otago Daily Times. MONDAY, JUNE 12, 1882. (Otago Daily Times, 12 June 1882) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1882
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Timaru Herald, 21 July 1882) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1882
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 09 October 1882) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Dec 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 20 December 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1883
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (West Coast Times, 11 January 1883) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1883
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Evening Post, 02 February 1883) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1883
Untitled (Evening Post, 07 March 1883) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1883
Page 4 Advertisements Column 7 (North Otago Times, 12 March 1883) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1883
Page 4 Advertisements Column 7 (North Otago Times, 13 March 1883) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1883
Page 4 Advertisements Column 7 (North Otago Times, 14 March 1883) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Mar 1883
Page 4 Advertisements Column 7 (North Otago Times, 16 March 1883) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Mar 1883
Page 3 Advertisements Column 7 (North Otago Times, 21 March 1883) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Mar 1883
Page 4 Advertisements Column 7 (North Otago Times, 23 March 1883) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 May 1883
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (North Otago Times, 29 May 1883) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1883
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (North Otago Times, 30 May 1883) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 May 1883
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (North Otago Times, 31 May 1883) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jun 1883
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (North Otago Times, 01 June 1883) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Aug 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 01 August 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 02 August 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1883
INTERPROVINOIAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 04 August 1883) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Aug 1883
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (North Otago Times, 08 August 1883) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Aug 1883
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (North Otago Times, 10 August 1883) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Aug 1883
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (North Otago Times, 11 August 1883) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1883
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (North Otago Times, 14 August 1883) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Aug 1883
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (North Otago Times, 17 August 1883) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Aug 1883
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (North Otago Times, 18 August 1883) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1883
LOOAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 25 August 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1883
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 30 August 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1883
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 08 September 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Oct 1883
NOTES BY PASQUIN, (Otago Witness, 06 October 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1883
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 23 October 1883) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Nov 1883
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 21 November 1883) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1883
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS ITEMS. (Auckland Star, 08 December 1883) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
27 Dec 1883
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times, 27 December 1883) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jan 1884
MARRIAGES. (Star, 10 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jan 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 14 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 19 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jan 1884
Mount Somers Railway. (Star, 26 January 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (North Otago Times, 30 January 1884) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1884
SPORTING. (Otago Daily Times, 02 February 1884) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Feb 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 04 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Feb 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 19 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Feb 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Mar 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (North Otago Times, 03 March 1884) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 05 March 1884) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 29 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 21 April 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 15 May 1884) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jun 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jun 1884
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jun 1884
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (New Zealand Tablet, 27 June 1884) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jun 1884
OUR CANTERBURY LETTER. (Otago Daily Times, 28 June 1884) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jul 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1884
CABLE NEWS. (Evening Post, 10 July 1884) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Aug 1884
THE NEW PARLIAMENT. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 11 August 1884) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1884
Local & General. (Star, 14 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 27 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 29 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 01 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 02 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 04 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Oct 1884
THE DEFENCES OF THE COLONY. (Otago Daily Times, 06 October 1884) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 08 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 22 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Nov 1884
THE Marlborough Express. Published Every Evening SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1884. LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Marlborough Express, 01 November 1884) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Nov 1884
Untitled (Auckland Star, 22 November 1884) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1884
The Charges Against the Crabtrees. (Star, 23 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Feb 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 February 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Feb 1885
THE NEW BOYS HIGH SCHOOL. (Otago Daily Times, 12 February 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
20 Feb 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 20 February 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Feb 1885
THE NEW BOYS HIGH SCHOOL. (Otago Daily Times, 27 February 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Mar 1885
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 10 March 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1885
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Marlborough Express, 13 March 1885) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1885
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Marlborough Express, 14 March 1885) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1885
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 24 March 1885) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1885
Papakura Races. (Auckland Star, 13 April 1885) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Apr 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Apr 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 April 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 May 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 May 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 09 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 10 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 18 June 1885) 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.

“Merchant”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch