How many records does the archive hold?

63,896 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 China Kitchen”, the shelf

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

217 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
5 Apr 1856
Page 10 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 05 April 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
13 Jun 1857
Provincial Council. (Lyttelton Times, 13 June 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Jul 1857
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 22 July 1857) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1860s
24 Oct 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 24 October 1860) 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
5 Feb 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 05 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Feb 1862
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 08 February 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1868
THE MONTH. (West Coast Times, 02 November 1868) West Coast Times · 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
21 Dec 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
20 Dec 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 20 December 1873) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Mar 1875
EXPRESS" TELEGRAMS. (Marlborough Express, 06 March 1875) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Nov 1876
EXPRESS" TELEGRAMS (Marlborough Express, 08 November 1876) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 28 February 1878) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 06 March 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Sept 1878
PROPOSED NEW HOTEL AT SUMNER. (Star, 02 September 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1878
Untitled (Marlborough Express, 31 December 1878) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1879
MEETING OF CREDITORS. MR. R. J. DUNCAN. (Evening Post, 05 April 1879) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Sept 1879
Grand Opening Ceremonial. (Auckland Star, 17 September 1879) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1880s
11 May 1880
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 May 1880) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1880
MELBOURNE EXHIBITION. (Otago Witness, 09 October 1880) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1882
SECOND EDITION. (Star, 20 February 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Apr 1882
THE EXHIBITION. (Star, 11 April 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Aug 1882
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 02 August 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Nov 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 November 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Nov 1882
EXHIBITIONS. Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Exhibition. (Otago Witness, 25 November 1882) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Dec 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 20 December 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Dec 1882
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 20 December 1882) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1882
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wanganui Chronicle, 23 December 1882) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jul 1883
News of the Week. (New Zealand Tablet, 06 July 1883) New Zealand Tablet · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
11 Feb 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 February 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 06 March 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jun 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 07 June 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Jul 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 18 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jul 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 30 July 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 27 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 29 September 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Oct 1884
TIMARU AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL SHOW. (Timaru Herald, 30 October 1884) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1884
TIMARU AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL SHOW. (Timaru Herald, 06 November 1884) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1884
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 15 November 1884) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 01 May 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 June 1885) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jun 1885
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 11 June 1885) 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
5 Mar 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 05 March 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Jun 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 03 June 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1886
Page 2 Advertisements Column 7 (Star, 10 July 1886) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Aug 1887
Page 3 Advertisements Column 6 (Evening Post, 06 August 1887) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Apr 1889
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 05 April 1889) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1890s
13 Feb 1895
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 13 February 1895) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1896
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 19 August 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Aug 1896
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 25 August 1896) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Sept 1898
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Evening Post, 19 September 1898) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1898
Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 28 November 1898) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Mar 1899
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Auckland Star, 04 March 1899) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 May 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 06 May 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
21 Oct 1899
Page 5 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 21 October 1899) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1900s
18 Mar 1903
LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. Motto:—We write.for the benefit of others, not for ourselves. (Otago Witness, 18 March 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Aug 1903
OMNIUM GATHERUM. (Otago Witness, 12 August 1903) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Jul 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 01 July 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Aug 1905
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 19 August 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 November 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Nov 1905
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 17 November 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1905
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 30 November 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Dec 1905
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 30 December 1905) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Jan 1906
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 27 January 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
23 Jul 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 23 July 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Aug 1906
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 17 August 1906) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Poverty Bay Herald, 13 March 1907) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Apr 1907
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 20 April 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Aug 1907
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 31 August 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Nov 1907
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 09 November 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1907
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 27 November 1907) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Feb 1908
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 01 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
21 Feb 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Feb 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Feb 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Feb 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 February 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Mar 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 10 March 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Mar 1908
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 17 March 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
25 Apr 1908
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 25 April 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Jun 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 11 June 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
18 Jun 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 18 June 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Jul 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 18 July 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
4 Sept 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 September 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1908
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 September 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 23 September 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1908
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 September 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Oct 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 24 October 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 May 1909
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 13 May 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Dec 1909
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 December 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1910s
23 Jul 1910
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (NZ Truth, 23 July 1910) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
the 1920s
9 Apr 1923
Page 12 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 09 April 1923) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1923
Page 12 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 12 May 1923) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Mar 1925
Page 12 Advertisements Column 3 (Evening Post, 28 March 1925) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Dec 1925
IN MEMORIAM. (Evening Post, 12 December 1925) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Jun 1926
Page 14 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 07 June 1926) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Oct 1928
Page 18 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 02 October 1928) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1930s
14 Sept 1933
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Evening Post, 14 September 1933) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Jun 1935
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 06 June 1935) Evening Post · 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.

“The China Kitchen”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch