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.

“"a"”, the shelf

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

59,205 records matching 96 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 1870s
6 Jun 1879
The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, JUNE 6. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 06 June 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jun 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 06 June 1879) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jun 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 06 June 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 06 June 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 07 June 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1879
Page 27 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Witness, 07 June 1879) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jun 1879
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Timaru Herald, 09 June 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jun 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 12 June 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 13 June 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1879
Untitled (Nelson Evening Mail, 13 June 1879) Nelson Evening Mail · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1879
CANTERBURY NEWS. (Grey River Argus, 13 June 1879) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 16 June 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 17 June 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Jun 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Thames Star, 17 June 1879) Thames Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jun 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 17 June 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 18 June 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jun 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 18 June 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jun 1879
HOPE OF CHRISTCHURCH LODGE. (Star, 18 June 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jun 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 18 June 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jun 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Poverty Bay Herald, 19 June 1879) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 20 June 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 25 June 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Poverty Bay Herald, 25 June 1879) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jun 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (West Coast Times, 26 June 1879) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jun 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 27 June 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Jun 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Poverty Bay Herald, 27 June 1879) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jun 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 27 June 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jun 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 28 June 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Jun 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (West Coast Times, 28 June 1879) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jun 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (West Coast Times, 30 June 1879) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jun 1879
GREAT STORM. (Star, 30 June 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 01 July 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jul 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 01 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jul 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 01 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jul 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 01 July 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (West Coast Times, 01 July 1879) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jul 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 03 July 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jul 1879
LYTTELTON HARBOUR BOARD. (Star, 04 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jul 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 04 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jul 1879
Untitled (Grey River Argus, 05 July 1879) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jul 1879
The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JULY 8. (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 08 July 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jul 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 09 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jul 1879
INTERPROVINCIAL. (Otago Witness, 12 July 1879) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 12 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Poverty Bay Herald, 16 July 1879) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jul 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 16 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1879
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 16 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Poverty Bay Herald, 17 July 1879) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Poverty Bay Herald, 18 July 1879) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1879
West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1879. (West Coast Times, 18 July 1879) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jul 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 19 July 1879) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jul 1879
ODDFELLOWS' DINNER. (Star, 19 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 21 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 22 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jul 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 22 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 23 July 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1879
The Star. THURSDAY, JULY 24, 1879, (Star, 24 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Poverty Bay Herald, 26 July 1879) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Jul 1879
The Otago Daily Times. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE OTAGO GUARDIAN. SATURDAY, JULY 28, 1879. (Otago Daily Times, 26 July 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jul 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 28 July 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jul 1879
WELLINGTON. (Wanganui Chronicle, 29 July 1879) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jul 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 July 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Aug 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 01 August 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Aug 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 01 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Aug 1879
Page 23 Advertisements Column 1 (New Zealand Tablet, 01 August 1879) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 02 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1879
News of the week. (Otago Witness, 02 August 1879) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 04 August 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Aug 1879
The Otago Daily Times. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE OTAGO GUARDIAN. MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 1879. (Otago Daily Times, 04 August 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 04 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1879
Christchurch, August 1. CHRISTCHURCH JOCKEY CLUB METROPOLITAN MEETING. (Grey River Argus, 04 August 1879) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Aug 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Aug 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 06 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Aug 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 07 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Aug 1879
I.O.G.T., GRAND LODGE SESSION. (Star, 09 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Aug 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 09 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Aug 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 11 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Aug 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Aug 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 13 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Aug 1879
My dear Papa, letter from Matapuna, page 1 My dear Papa, 13 August 1879 · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
13 Aug 1879
My dear Papa, letter from Matapuna, page 3 My dear Papa, 13 August 1879 · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
13 Aug 1879
My dear Papa, letter from Matapuna, page 2 My dear Papa, 13 August 1879 · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
13 Aug 1879
My dear Papa, 13 August 1879Archive 498 Henry Bottle papers · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
14 Aug 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 14 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Aug 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 15 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Aug 1879
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 15 August 1879) Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Aug 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. THIS DAY. (Evening Post, 16 August 1879) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Aug 1879
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 16 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Aug 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. August 15. (North Otago Times, 16 August 1879) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Aug 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Poverty Bay Herald, 18 August 1879) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Aug 1879
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 18 August 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1879
The Star. TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1879. (Star, 19 August 1879) 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.

“"a"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch