How many records does the archive hold?

63,896 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.

“"Esplanade"”, the shelf

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

338 records matching 99 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 1850s
25 Jan 1851
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 25 January 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Mar 1851
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 15 March 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1851
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 22 March 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Apr 1851
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 12 April 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 May 1851
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 03 May 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1851
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 10 May 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 May 1851
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 31 May 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1851
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 07 June 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jun 1851
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 28 June 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Jun 1851
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 28 June 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jul 1851
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 26 July 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Oct 1851
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 04 October 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
11 Oct 1851
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 11 October 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Nov 1851
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 15 November 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Dec 1851
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 20 December 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Apr 1852
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 24 April 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1852
Page 11 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 01 May 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1852
Page 11 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 May 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 July 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 09 October 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1852
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 23 October 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Oct 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 23 October 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Oct 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 30 October 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1852
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 20 November 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1860s
3 Aug 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 03 August 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jul 1867
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 19 July 1867) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Nov 1867
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 15 November 1867) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1870s
24 Oct 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Star, 24 October 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1878
PROPOSED NEW HOTEL AT SUMNER. (Star, 02 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
21 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 21 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Dec 1884
Tramway to New Brighton. (Star, 03 December 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 11 February 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jul 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 06 July 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jul 1887
Page 4 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 20 July 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Nov 1887
SUMNER TOWN BOARD. (Star, 05 November 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 24 December 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Dec 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 27 December 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1888
THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF NEW ZEALAND. (Auckland Star, 10 December 1888) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Mar 1889
Land Sale. (Star, 04 March 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Jun 1889
The Social World. (Observer, 29 June 1889) Observer · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Oct 1889
COMMERCIAL. (Star, 05 October 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1890s
21 Aug 1890
Sumner Town Board. (Star, 21 August 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1891
NEW BRIGHTON IMPROVEMENTS. (Star, 03 April 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Oct 1891
A "CENTRAL" POLLING-PLACE. (Evening Post, 31 October 1891) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 May 1892
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 05 May 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jun 1892
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 21 June 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jun 1892
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 June 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1892
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 July 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jul 1892
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 05 July 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Aug 1892
ARTHUR STREET SCHOOL. (Otago Daily Times, 05 August 1892) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
21 Mar 1893
Telegraphic. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 21 March 1893) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Apr 1893
A FLAT CONTRADICTION. (Evening Post, 24 April 1893) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1893
Latest Locals. (Star, 16 May 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1893
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 June 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Jun 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 08 June 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Oct 1893
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 07 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Nov 1893
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 18 November 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Nov 1893
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 22 November 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Nov 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 November 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1893
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 25 November 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1893
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 28 November 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jan 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 22 January 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Feb 1894
Local is General. (Star, 02 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Feb 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 17 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 February 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1894
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 March 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1894
Page 7 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 24 March 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1894
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 March 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1894
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 19 April 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1894
Evening Post. MONDAY. JULY 23, 1894 THE OTTAWA CONFERENCE. (Evening Post, 23 July 1894) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1894
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 December 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Aug 1895
HARBOUR BOARD. (Star, 29 August 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1895
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 19 October 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1895
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 October 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1895
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 29 November 1895) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1896
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 07 January 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 06 March 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 May 1897
PROPERTY SALES. (Star, 08 May 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Aug 1897
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 10 August 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Aug 1897
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 12 August 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Aug 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 13 August 1897) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 6 places
14 Aug 1897
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 14 August 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Sept 1897
SUMNER NOTES. (Star, 04 September 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1897
SUMNER NOTES. (Star, 25 September 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1898
BOROUGH COUNCILS. (Star, 11 March 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1898
NEW BRIGHTON NOTES. (Star, 23 July 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 May 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 09 May 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1899
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 May 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1900s
1 Jan 1900
Sumner by Aldersley, David James, 1862-1928 · Photographs / He Whakaahua · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
8 Jun 1901
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 June 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Aug 1901
BOROUGH COUNCILS. (Star, 20 August 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1901
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Grey River Argus, 27 November 1901) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1901
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Grey River Argus, 28 November 1901) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Feb 1902
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 05 February 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Feb 1902
CONDENSED CABLES AND TELEGRAMS. (Wanganui Herald, 07 February 1902) Wanganui Herald · 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
15 Nov 1902
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Nov 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 November 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
19 Dec 1902
Page 3 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 19 December 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places

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.

“"Esplanade"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch