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.

“The Bedford”, the shelf

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

500 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 1840s
15 Dec 1841
LAST- NIGHT'S MEETING. (New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, 15 December 1841) New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1850s
18 May 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 18 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 May 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 May 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 25 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
28 May 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 28 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jun 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 01 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jun 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 04 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Jun 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 08 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jun 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 11 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Jun 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jun 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 18 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Jun 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 22 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Jun 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 25 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Jun 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 29 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Jun 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 29 June 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jul 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 02 July 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jul 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 06 July 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jul 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 06 July 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Jul 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 13 July 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jul 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 16 July 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
23 Jul 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 23 July 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
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
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
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
29 Oct 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 29 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 26 November 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 24 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 31 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 31 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1860s
4 Jan 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 04 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jan 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 07 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jan 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 11 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jan 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 14 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jan 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 18 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 21 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jan 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 25 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Feb 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 25 February 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Mar 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 03 March 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jul 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 04 July 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Jul 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 07 July 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jul 1860
RETURNED LETTERS. (Lyttelton Times, 11 July 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Jul 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 14 July 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Jul 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 28 July 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Sept 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 05 September 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
15 Sept 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 15 September 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 26 September 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Oct 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Oct 1860
RETURNED LETTERS (Lyttelton Times, 13 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
20 Feb 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 20 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Feb 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 23 February 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Apr 1861
RETURNED LETTERS. (Lyttelton Times, 06 April 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 15 May 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Oct 1861
Page 3 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 12 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Oct 1861
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 16 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 06 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
9 Nov 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 09 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Nov 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 13 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 16 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 20 November 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
1 Jan 1862
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 01 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Jan 1862
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 04 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Jan 1862
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 08 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jan 1862
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 11 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 Jan 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 15 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jan 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 25 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
8 Feb 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 08 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1862
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 12 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Apr 1862
CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 23 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 21 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Jul 1863
PORT OF NAPIER. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 29 July 1863) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Aug 1863
Shipping Summary. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 08 August 1863) Hawke's Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Apr 1865
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Otago Daily Times, 07 April 1865) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Jun 1866
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 16 June 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jun 1866
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 18 June 1866) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Nov 1866
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Grey River Argus, 01 November 1866) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Nov 1866
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Grey River Argus, 22 November 1866) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1867
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 15 November 1867) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Jan 1868
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (West Coast Times, 10 January 1868) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Mar 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Grey River Argus, 03 March 1868) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Mar 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Grey River Argus, 05 March 1868) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
16 Feb 1872
NEW ZEALAND.-GENERAL NEWS. (Colonist, 16 February 1872) Colonist · 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
14 Jul 1873
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Timaru Herald, 14 July 1873) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Dec 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 12 December 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
12 May 1877
Page 13 Advertisements Column 4 (Otago Witness, 12 May 1877) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1878
CITY COUNCIL. (Star, 09 October 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 May 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 21 May 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 May 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 28 May 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 May 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 30 May 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 May 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 31 May 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jun 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 02 June 1879) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1879
Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 (Timaru Herald, 03 June 1879) Timaru Herald · 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.

“The Bedford”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch