How many records does the archive hold?

81,477 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.

“"Lyttelton"”, the shelf

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

15,082 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
28 May 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 28 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1884
Inquest. (Star, 28 May 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1884
Untitled (Auckland Star, 30 May 1884) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1884
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 30 May 1884) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1884
DIED FROM THE EFFECTS (Hawera & Normanby Star, 02 June 1884) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jun 1884
Local and General (Star, 09 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jun 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1884
OHRISTCHURCH. (North Otago Times, 13 June 1884) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 17 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1884
ANGLO-COLONIAL SUMMARY. (Star, 25 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jun 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 June 1884) Star · 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
30 Jun 1884
Latest Locals. (Star, 30 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jul 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 03 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jul 1884
Local & General. (Star, 08 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Jul 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jul 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jul 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 09 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
10 Jul 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jul 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wanganui Herald, 11 July 1884) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Jul 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 12 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Jul 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Jul 1884
AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 15 July 1884) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1884
VITAL STATISTICS. (Evening Post, 18 July 1884) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jul 1884
Polling Places for Canterbury. (Star, 18 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jul 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 19 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jul 1884
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1884
THE GENERAL ELECTION. (Daily Telegraph, 23 July 1884) Daily Telegraph · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1884
CANTERBURY. (Hawera & Normanby Star, 23 July 1884) Hawera & Normanby Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jul 1884
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 26 July 1884) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Jul 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 30 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Aug 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 01 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1884
Latest Locals. (Star, 02 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Aug 1884
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 08 August 1884) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · 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
14 Aug 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 14 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 14 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Manawatu Times, 14 August 1884) Manawatu Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Aug 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 15 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Aug 1884
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 16 August 1884) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Aug 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Aug 1884
Latest Locals. (Star, 16 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Aug 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (West Coast Times, 16 August 1884) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 19 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Aug 1884
Latest Locals. (Star, 22 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Aug 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 22 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Aug 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 26 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Aug 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Timaru Herald, 29 August 1884) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 30 August 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1884
Latest Locals. (Star, 02 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 02 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 04 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Sept 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Sept 1884
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Sept 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (West Coast Times, 06 September 1884) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wanganui Chronicle, 08 September 1884) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wanganui Chronicle, 11 September 1884) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Wanganui Chronicle, 12 September 1884) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 15 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 20 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 20 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1884
Local & General (Star, 23 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 25 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Sept 1884
Untitled (Wanganui Herald, 26 September 1884) Wanganui Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 01 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1884
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 03 October 1884) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
7 Oct 1884
TELEGRAPHIC. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 07 October 1884) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1884
Latest Locals. (Star, 08 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 10 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1884
Latest Locals. (Star, 11 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 11 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 13 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 14 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Bruce Herald, 14 October 1884) Bruce Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Oct 1884
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 18 October 1884) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 20 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Oct 1884
CHRISTCHURCH. (Manawatu Times, 20 October 1884) Manawatu Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 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
22 Oct 1884
Local & General (Star, 22 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1884
News of the Week. (New Zealand Tablet, 24 October 1884) New Zealand Tablet · 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.

“"Lyttelton"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch