How many records does the archive hold?

60,434 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.

“French Blue”, the shelf

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

387 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
27 Aug 1853
Page 11 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 27 August 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1855
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 22 December 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
22 Dec 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 22 December 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Feb 1857
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 07 February 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Feb 1857
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 11 February 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Feb 1857
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 18 February 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jun 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 19 June 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jun 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 23 June 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jun 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 26 June 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jul 1858
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 03 July 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1859
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 24 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Dec 1859
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 28 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1859
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 31 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1860s
22 Feb 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 22 February 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jun 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 27 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Jan 1861
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 05 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 25 May 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
30 Oct 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 30 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 06 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 16 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Nov 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 20 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Nov 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 23 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 27 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 30 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Dec 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 11 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Dec 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 14 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Dec 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 21 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Dec 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 25 December 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jan 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 29 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Feb 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 01 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Apr 1862
TIMARU DISTRICT ELECTORAL ROLL.—(Continued) (Lyttelton Times, 23 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Apr 1862
TIMARU DISTRICT ELECTORAL ROLL.—(Continued). (Lyttelton Times, 26 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 May 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1864
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 27 February 1864) 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
2 Jul 1864
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 02 July 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
18 Mar 1865
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] ANOTHER FIRE IN THE OCTAGON. (Otago Witness, 18 March 1865) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Apr 1865
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 20 April 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1865
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Timaru Herald, 22 April 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jun 1866
POST OF AUCKLAND. MISCELLANEOUS. (Daily Southern Cross, 25 June 1866) Daily Southern Cross · 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
9 Aug 1867
News of the Week. [FROM THE DAILY TIMES.] (Otago Witness, 09 August 1867) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Apr 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 10 April 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Jun 1869
The Evening Post. MONDAY, JUNE 28, 1869. (Evening Post, 28 June 1869) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
25 Jul 1870
Local and General. (Star, 25 July 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 May 1871
NEW ZEALAND. (Colonist, 16 May 1871) Colonist · 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
11 Mar 1872
Local and General. (Star, 11 March 1872) 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
24 Jun 1873
THE LATE MR, H. REDWOOD. (Colonist, 24 June 1873) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Dec 1873
THE Otago Daily Times. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1873. (Otago Daily Times, 25 December 1873) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Feb 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 21 February 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Mar 1874
Untitled (Wellington Independent, 23 March 1874) Wellington Independent · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Sept 1874
ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC. XXIII. GENTE HERMOSA (Continued). (Daily Southern Cross, 14 September 1874) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 24 October 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 02 January 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 09 January 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Jan 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 16 January 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jan 1875
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 20 January 1875) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1875
Telegrams. (Otago Witness, 27 March 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Apr 1875
West Coast Time. TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1875. (West Coast Times, 06 April 1875) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Aug 1875
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 07 August 1875) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
24 Feb 1876
LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. (Colonist, 24 February 1876) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Mar 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 March 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Apr 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 April 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 April 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Apr 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 06 April 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Apr 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 April 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Apr 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 April 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Apr 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 April 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 April 1878) Star · 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
9 May 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 May 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 May 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 May 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 May 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 May 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 May 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 May 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 20 May 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 May 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jun 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 13 June 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 July 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jul 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 July 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Aug 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 August 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 03 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 08 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 16 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 29 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Oct 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 31 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 November 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 02 November 1878) 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.

“French Blue”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch