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.

“"Madras Street"”, the shelf

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

1,338 records matching 97 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
31 Jan 1852
Page 9 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 31 January 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Feb 1852
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 14 February 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Feb 1852
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 21 February 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 13 March 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1852
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 27 March 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1852
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 03 April 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 April 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1852
Page 10 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 01 May 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1852
Page 9 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 May 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1852
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 14 August 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1852
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 27 November 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Mar 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 26 March 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Apr 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 30 April 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 May 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 07 May 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 28 May 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jun 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 04 June 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jun 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 11 June 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 18 June 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1853
ELECTORAL ROLL FOR THE TOWN OF CHRISTCHURCH. July 11, 1853. (Lyttelton Times, 23 July 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
24 Sept 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 24 September 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 01 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1853
JURY LIST. (Lyttelton Times, 22 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
12 Aug 1854
ELECTORAL ROLL FOR THE TOWN OF CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 12 August 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jul 1857
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 01 July 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1857
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 18 July 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jul 1857
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 29 July 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1858
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 16 June 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jun 1858
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 23 June 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1858
ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE (Lyttelton Times, 06 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Nov 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 13 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Nov 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 17 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 20 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Nov 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 24 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 08 December 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Dec 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 18 December 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1858
Page 10 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 29 December 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 31 December 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1859
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 09 March 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Mar 1859
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 23 March 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Mar 1859
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 26 March 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1859
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 30 March 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1859
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 02 April 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1859
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 31 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
the 1860s
14 Apr 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 14 April 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Apr 1860
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 21 April 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 9 places
25 Apr 1860
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 25 April 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
19 May 1860
JURY LIST FOR 1860. (Lyttelton Times, 19 May 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 7 places
13 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 13 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
11 Jul 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 11 July 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 14 July 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 21 July 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 01 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 05 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 22 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 26 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Apr 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 20 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
16 Nov 1861
The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1861. (Lyttelton Times, 16 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Dec 1861
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Lyttelton Times, 25 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Apr 1862
ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF HEATHCOTE—CLAIMS TO VOTE.—IB 62. (Lyttelton Times, 12 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
12 Apr 1862
ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH.—CLAIMS TO VOTE—IB 62. (Lyttelton Times, 12 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
1 Jan 1863
Photograph: First Christchurch Railway Station Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
23 Nov 1866
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 23 November 1866) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1866
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 27 November 1866) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1866
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 04 December 1866) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1866
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 05 December 1866) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Dec 1866
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 06 December 1866) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Dec 1866
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 07 December 1866) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Dec 1866
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 08 December 1866) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1866
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 10 December 1866) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Dec 1866
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 12 December 1866) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1866
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 13 December 1866) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1866
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 15 December 1866) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1868
CHRISTCHURCH. (Marlborough Express, 15 February 1868) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Apr 1868
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 04 April 1868) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1868
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 01 September 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1868
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 September 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Dec 1868
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 16 February 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Mar 1869
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 25 March 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1869
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 27 March 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jul 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 27 July 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
30 Sept 1869
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 30 September 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Oct 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 26 October 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1869
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 14 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
1 Jan 1870
Madras bridge Christchurch bridges: plans and drawings · Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries
1 Jan 1871
Photograph: River Avon by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
31 Jan 1871
CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 31 January 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Oct 1871
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 30 October 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 January 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Jan 1872
Local and General. (Star, 24 January 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Feb 1872
NEW ZEALAND.-GENERAL NEWS. (Colonist, 16 February 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 02 March 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1872
OPENING OF THE NORTHERN RAILWAY. (Star, 30 April 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 May 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 May 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1872
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 03 October 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1872
Local and General. (Star, 19 October 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 October 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1873
MAGISTERIAL. (Star, 18 September 1873) 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.

“"Madras Street"”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch