How many records does the archive hold?

62,792 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.

“Balls & All”, the shelf

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

385 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 1850s
31 May 1851
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 31 May 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1852
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 08 May 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1853
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 27 August 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1853
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 September 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Sept 1854
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 16 September 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Aug 1857
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 26 August 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1858
toCleanings of News. FROM ENGLISH PAPERS TO 16TH DECEMBER. (Colonist, 30 March 1858) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Aug 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 03 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Aug 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Aug 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 13 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Aug 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Aug 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 20 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Aug 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 24 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Aug 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 24 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Aug 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 31 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Sept 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 07 September 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Sept 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 September 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Oct 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 08 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Oct 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 15 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 19 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Oct 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 26 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 29 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1860s
28 Jan 1860
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 28 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 06 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Oct 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 13 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 27 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Nov 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 03 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Dec 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 15 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 24 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Dec 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 14 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
18 Dec 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 18 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 05 March 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1862
TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS. (Lyttelton Times, 05 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
7 May 1864
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 07 May 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
19 Apr 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Wellington Independent, 19 April 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Apr 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Wellington Independent, 21 April 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Apr 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Wellington Independent, 24 April 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Apr 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Wellington Independent, 26 April 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Apr 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Wellington Independent, 28 April 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1866
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Wellington Independent, 01 May 1866) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1866
LONDON. (Otago Daily Times, 19 October 1866) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
20 Oct 1866
LONDON. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) August 25th, 1866. (Otago Witness, 20 October 1866) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
7 Nov 1866
PORT OF AUCKLAND. MISCELLANEOUS. (Daily Southern Cross, 07 November 1866) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1867
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Grey River Argus, 02 March 1867) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1867
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Grey River Argus, 05 March 1867) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Mar 1867
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Grey River Argus, 12 March 1867) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1867
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Grey River Argus, 14 March 1867) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1867
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 16 November 1867) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Grey River Argus, 14 May 1868) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 16 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 17 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 December 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1869
THE Grey River Argus SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1569. (Grey River Argus, 20 February 1869) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jul 1869
Local and General. (Star, 23 July 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
12 Jan 1870
GERALDINE ROAD BOARD. (Timaru Herald, 12 January 1870) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Dec 1870
CRICKET. (Star, 19 December 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1871
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Daily Times, 28 January 1871) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 December 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jan 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 17 January 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 21 January 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 23 January 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Mar 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 14 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Mar 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 17 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Mar 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Mar 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Mar 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Mar 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 27 March 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1873
Local and General News. (Marlborough Express, 29 March 1873) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 08 September 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Sept 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 18 September 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 September 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 September 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 29 September 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 30 September 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 October 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 October 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Oct 1873
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 04 October 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Sept 1874
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 September 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 05 December 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Aug 1876
The General Assembly. (Otago Witness, 12 August 1876) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Sept 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 07 September 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Sept 1876
A SINGULAR CASE. (Marlborough Express, 20 September 1876) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Oct 1876
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Daily Southern Cross, 17 October 1876) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Feb 1877
Evening Post. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1877. (Evening Post, 01 February 1877) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Dec 1877
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 December 1877) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1877
CRICKET. (Timaru Herald, 31 December 1877) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Apr 1878
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Hawke's Bay Herald, 19 April 1878) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Sept 1878
OPENING OF THE CHRISTCHURCH AND DUNEDIN RAILWAY. (Star, 07 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Dec 1878
Untitled (Marlborough Express, 31 December 1878) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Feb 1879
CRICKET. (Star, 17 February 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Mar 1879
Land and Water. (Otago Witness, 01 March 1879) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1879
CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. (Southland Times, 24 March 1879) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Mar 1879
COMBINED ENGLISH TEAM V. CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 26 March 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Oct 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 25 October 1879) Star · 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.

“Balls & All”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch