How many records does the archive hold?

66,408 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.

“Canterbury Copy Service”, the shelf

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

249 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
18 Jul 1854
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Daily Southern Cross, 18 July 1854) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Mar 1855
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 21 March 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1855
Page 10 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 14 July 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Aug 1855
Page 10 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 11 August 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Dec 1855
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 26 December 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1859
NEW ZEALAND PROVINCES. (Otago Witness, 18 June 1859) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1860s
8 Jun 1861
Untitled (Hawke's Bay Herald, 08 June 1861) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Jan 1862
GEOLOGY OF OTAGO. (Otago Daily Times, 31 January 1862) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
5 Feb 1862
M. REUTER. (Otago Daily Times, 05 February 1862) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Sept 1862
The Daily Southern Cross. UNKNOWN. (Daily Southern Cross, 12 September 1862) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Nov 1863
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 14 November 1863) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
7 Nov 1864
THE Otago Daily Times. (Otago Daily Times, 07 November 1864) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Dec 1864
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 24 December 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jan 1865
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 28 January 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1865
THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam" DUNEDIN, MONDAY, MARCH 6. (Otago Daily Times, 06 March 1865) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1865
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 11 November 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Jun 1867
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (Timaru Herald, 26 June 1867) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jun 1867
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 29 June 1867) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 May 1868
LOCAL NEWS OF THE MONTH. (Timaru Herald, 02 May 1868) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Jul 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 08 July 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Feb 1869
Probincial News. (Southland Times, 15 February 1869) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
15 Feb 1870
NEW ZEALAND INTELLIGENCE (Colonist, 15 February 1870) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Mar 1870
NEW ZEALAND INTELLIGENCE. (Colonist, 29 March 1870) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Jul 1870
Local and General. (Star, 25 July 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Sept 1870
Local and General. (Star, 29 September 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Dec 1870
Local and General. (Star, 15 December 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 May 1871
Local and General. (Star, 02 May 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1871
NEW ZEALAND. (Colonist, 16 May 1871) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1872
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 02 March 1872) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Mar 1872
EVENTS OF THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 09 March 1872) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Sept 1872
VANDALISM AT THE TERRACES IN THE LAKE DISTRICT. (Colonist, 27 September 1872) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1873
Local and General. (Star, 28 May 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1873
Varieties. (Star, 04 July 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jul 1873
GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. (Tuapeka Times, 10 July 1873) Tuapeka Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Oct 1873
Local and General. (Star, 14 October 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jan 1874
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 06 January 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1874
The Evening Post. FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1874. (Evening Post, 09 January 1874) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1874
AUSTRALIAN NEWS. (Timaru Herald, 22 April 1874) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Aug 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 29 August 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Nov 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 07 November 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Dec 1874
THE Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1874. (Otago Daily Times, 19 December 1874) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jan 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 23 January 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1875
Untitled (Marlborough Express, 27 October 1875) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jun 1876
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 05 June 1876) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Mar 1877
Untitled (Colonist, 24 March 1877) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Mar 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 26 March 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Apr 1878
West Coast Time. TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1878. (West Coast Times, 16 April 1878) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1878
THE Marlborough Express. (Marlborough Express, 01 May 1878) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jun 1878
MR STOUT IN REPLY TO MR D. REID. (Otago Witness, 01 June 1878) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jun 1878
LATEST CABLE TELEGRAMS. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 08 June 1878) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
10 Jul 1878
CANTERBURY DEUTSCHER VEREIN. (Star, 10 July 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jan 1879
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 20 January 1879) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Mar 1879
FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 1879. THE DRAINAGE QUESTION. (Evening Post, 07 March 1879) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1879
CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 17 April 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jun 1879
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 04 June 1879) Otago Daily Times · 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
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
13 Sept 1879
THE TAIERI ELECTION. (Otago Witness, 13 September 1879) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Sept 1879
Grand Opening Ceremonial. (Auckland Star, 17 September 1879) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1879
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 29 September 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Nov 1879
News of the week. (Otago Witness, 15 November 1879) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1879
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 03 December 1879) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
28 Jan 1880
Untitled (Auckland Star, 28 January 1880) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Feb 1880
Untitled (West Coast Times, 24 February 1880) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1880
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 10 July 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1880
Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1880. (Otago Daily Times, 17 July 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Oct 1880
LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF ST. MARX'S CHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 06 October 1880) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Oct 1880
MELBOURNE EXHIBITION. (Otago Witness, 09 October 1880) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Oct 1880
West Coast Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1880. (West Coast Times, 12 October 1880) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Nov 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 November 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 11 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Dec 1880
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 18 December 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1881
Local & General. (Star, 12 May 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1881
Local & General. (Star, 18 May 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 May 1881
Local & General. (Star, 26 May 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1881
Local & General. (Star, 29 October 1881) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jan 1882
The Otago Daily Times. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1882. (Otago Daily Times, 25 January 1882) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Mar 1882
Local & General. (Star, 06 March 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1882
The Star. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1882. (Star, 10 March 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Apr 1882
THE EXHIBITION. (Star, 11 April 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1882
COLLING WOOD. (Colonist, 15 June 1882) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Apr 1883
RAMBLES ROUND THE WORLD.—VIII. (Auckland Star, 14 April 1883) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1883
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 08 September 1883) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Sept 1883
The Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1883. (Otago Daily Times, 08 September 1883) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
2 Feb 1884
SPORTING. (Otago Daily Times, 02 February 1884) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1884
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS. (Otago Daily Times, 18 July 1884) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1884
Untitled (Auckland Star, 15 September 1884) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jul 1885
THE PAY IN THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. (Evening Post, 21 July 1885) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1885
Latest Locals. (Star, 26 September 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1885
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 04 December 1885) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Mar 1886
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Aug 1886
The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 1886. (Timaru Herald, 09 August 1886) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 May 1887
The Timaru Herald WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1887. (Timaru Herald, 18 May 1887) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jun 1887
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 10 June 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Aug 1887
NOTES BY BEACON. (Otago Witness, 05 August 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Aug 1887
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 12 August 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1887
SPORTING NEWS. (Otago Witness, 23 September 1887) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Nov 1887
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 11 November 1887) Otago Witness · 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.

“Canterbury Copy Service”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch