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.

“Sumner Social”, the shelf

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

144 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 Dec 1856
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 27 December 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 May 1857
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 13 May 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1860s
5 Jan 1861
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 05 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jul 1861
LYTTELTON AND CHRISTCHURCH RAILWAY. (Lyttelton Times, 20 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
24 Feb 1880
The Otago Daily Times. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1880. (Otago Daily Times, 24 February 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Feb 1880
SOCIAL AND GENERAL. (Otago Daily Times, 27 February 1880) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
5 May 1880
OUR DEAF AND DUMB. (Star, 05 May 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Jan 1883
Local & General. (Star, 13 January 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
7 Mar 1883
Local & General. (Star, 07 March 1883) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Jun 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 03 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1884
Latest Locals. (Star, 11 October 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1885
LOCAL & GENERAL (Otago Witness, 17 October 1885) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Oct 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 24 October 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Oct 1887
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 October 1887) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 May 1888
Local & General. (Star, 03 May 1888) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1889
Local & General. (Star, 24 May 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Aug 1889
Latest Locals. (Star, 24 August 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1889
Latest Locals. (Star, 22 October 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1890s
18 Feb 1890
Local News. (Star, 18 February 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Sept 1890
THE NEW ZEALANDER AT HOME. (Otago Witness, 04 September 1890) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1890
Latest Locals. (Star, 15 November 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1890
Local & General. (Star, 31 December 1890) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1891
A Latest Locals. (Star, 23 May 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 May 1891
Local & General. (Star, 25 May 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Aug 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 01 August 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Aug 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 08 August 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1891
Local & General. (Star, 03 September 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Oct 1891
Latest Locals. (Star, 03 October 1891) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Mar 1892
Local & General. (Star, 11 March 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1892
Latest Locals. (Star, 23 May 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Nov 1892
Latest Locals. (Star, 05 November 1892) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 May 1893
Local & General. (Star, 23 May 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Sept 1893
Local & General. (Star, 02 September 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1893
Local & General. (Star, 30 September 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Oct 1893
Local & General. (Star, 07 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Oct 1893
Local & General. (Star, 14 October 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1893
Local & General. (Star, 02 November 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Dec 1893
Local & General. (Star, 16 December 1893) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 May 1894
Local & General. (Star, 26 May 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jun 1894
Local & General. (Star, 09 June 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jun 1894
Local & General. (Star, 23 June 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Sept 1894
Local & General. (Star, 21 September 1894) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Apr 1895
Local & General. (Star, 22 April 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Mar 1896
CABLED TOPICS. (Evening Post, 17 March 1896) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1896
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 20 May 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Dec 1896
ELECTORAL. (Star, 03 December 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Jan 1897
IN A NUTSHELL. (Star, 30 January 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Oct 1897
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 20 October 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Nov 1897
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 13 November 1897) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Feb 1898
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 11 February 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Jun 1898
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 20 June 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Nov 1898
DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND. DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH. (New Zealand Tablet, 17 November 1898) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1899
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 11 January 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1899
ELECTORAL. (Star, 16 November 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1900s
26 Jan 1900
GALA AT MERIVALE. (Star, 26 January 1900) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Oct 1900
OLD WRITERS' WEEK. (Otago Witness, 10 October 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1900
ATHLETICS. (Otago Witness, 26 December 1900) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1901
OUR SIXTH CONTINGENT. NOTES FROM NEWTOWN CAMP. (Evening Post, 19 January 1901) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Dec 1901
Page 11 Advertisements Column 5 (Otago Daily Times 12-1-1901) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1901
LOCAL AND. GENERAL. (Star, 24 December 1901) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1902
THE WEEK. (Star, 02 August 1902) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jun 1903
THE TRAMWAY PROPOSALS. (Star, 09 June 1903) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
25 Nov 1903
DOT'S LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 25 November 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Aug 1904
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 August 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Nov 1904
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 November 1904) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Aug 1905
Untitled (Poverty Bay Herald, 18 August 1905) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 4 places
23 Sept 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 September 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Dec 1905
TO-MORROW'S POLL. (Star, 05 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Dec 1905
TO-DAY'S ELECTIONS. (Star, 06 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Dec 1905
SHE NEEDED BLOOD. (Star, 07 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
7 Feb 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 07 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Feb 1906
THE TRAMWAY LOAN. (Star, 07 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
10 Feb 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 10 February 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
21 Apr 1906
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 21 April 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 05 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 May 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 May 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 26 May 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Jun 1906
THE FINAL SCENE. FUNERAL OF THE LATE PREMIER. (Evening Post, 21 June 1906) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jun 1906
THE COMING ELECTIONS. (Star, 22 June 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
26 Jun 1906
TRAMWAY BOARD ELECTIONS. (Star, 26 June 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Mar 1907
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 March 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 May 1907
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 08 May 1907) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Jun 1907
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 07 June 1907) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jun 1907
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 19 June 1907) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Sept 1907
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 17 September 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1907
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 November 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jan 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 January 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Feb 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 29 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Feb 1908
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 29 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 September 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Oct 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 31 October 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Nov 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 November 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Jan 1909
THE PRIME MINISTER. (Star, 19 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 20 February 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 April 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jun 1909
THE TRAMWAYS. (Star, 24 June 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1909
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. (Otago Witness, 27 October 1909) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1910s
16 Jun 1910
THE CITY OF THE PLAINS. (Marlborough Express, 16 June 1910) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jun 1914
Grey River Argus and Black News FRIDAY, JUNE 12th, 1914 (Grey River Argus, 12 June 1914) Grey River Argus · 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.

“Sumner Social”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch