How many records does the archive hold?

65,200 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 Mechanics”, the shelf

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

280 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
17 Jan 1852
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 January 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Jan 1852
Page 9 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 31 January 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 13 March 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1852
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 27 March 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Apr 1852
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 03 April 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1852
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 April 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1852
Page 10 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 01 May 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1852
PUBLIC MEETING AT CHRISTCHURCH. (Lyttelton Times, 15 May 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 May 1855
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 26 May 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1858
Provincial Council. (Lyttelton Times, 27 November 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
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
10 Aug 1859
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 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
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
31 Aug 1859
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 31 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
31 Aug 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 31 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
Provincial Council. (Lyttelton Times, 29 October 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Nov 1859
CHRISTCHURCH MECHANICS' INSTITUTE. (Lyttelton Times, 19 November 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Nov 1859
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 19 November 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Nov 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 26 November 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Nov 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 30 November 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 03 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Dec 1859
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 10 December 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1860s
25 Jan 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 25 January 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
22 Feb 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 22 February 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1860
CHRISTCHURCH (Lyttelton Times, 05 May 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Jul 1860
CHRISTCHURCH (Lyttelton Times, 07 July 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 10 October 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 Nov 1860
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 17 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
5 Jan 1861
The Lyttelton Times. (Lyttelton Times, 05 January 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 02 March 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Oct 1861
TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS. (Lyttelton Times, 05 October 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Nov 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 02 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Nov 1861
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 16 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Nov 1861
ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE (Lyttelton Times, 20 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
23 Nov 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 23 November 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Jan 1862
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 08 January 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Apr 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 02 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Apr 1862
TOWN AND COUNTRY NEWS. (Lyttelton Times, 05 April 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
14 May 1862
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 14 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Jan 1864
News of the week. (Otago Witness, 30 January 1864) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
10 Sept 1864
CHRISTCHURCH. (Southland Times, 10 September 1864) Southland Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Sept 1864
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 10 September 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Sept 1864
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 17 September 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1864
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 17 December 1864) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Feb 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 18 February 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Aug 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 26 August 1865) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1865
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 30 September 1865) Timaru Herald · 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
11 Aug 1866
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 11 August 1866) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Feb 1867
PORT OF AUCKLAND. MISCELLANEOUS. (Daily Southern Cross, 20 February 1867) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
15 May 1867
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 15 May 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
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
24 Aug 1867
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 24 August 1867) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Feb 1868
CHRISTCHURCH. (Timaru Herald, 12 February 1868) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 10 June 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Jun 1868
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 12 June 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Sept 1868
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 08 September 1868) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Jan 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 25 January 1869) 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
25 Aug 1869
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 25 August 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Sept 1869
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 11 September 1869) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Timaru Herald, 15 September 1869) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Sept 1869
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 September 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Sept 1869
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 30 September 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Dec 1869
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 17 December 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
5 Jan 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 January 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1870
Page 1 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 21 January 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jul 1870
Local and General. (Star, 02 July 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jul 1870
Latest and General. (Star, 30 July 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Nov 1870
OURSELVES AS OTHERS SEE US. (Star, 14 November 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Dec 1870
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 December 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 May 1871
NOTES OF NEW ZEALAND TRAVEL. (West Coast Times, 16 May 1871) West Coast Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
28 Mar 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 March 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1872
OPENING OF THE NORTHERN RAILWAY. (Star, 30 April 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
17 May 1872
FRIDAY, MAY 17, 1872. (North Otago Times, 17 May 1872) North Otago Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Jul 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 06 July 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 23 July 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Oct 1872
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 October 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Dec 1872
Telegrams. (Otago Witness, 07 December 1872) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jun 1873
NOTES. (Timaru Herald, 20 June 1873) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
2 Jul 1873
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Timaru Herald, 02 July 1873) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 Sept 1873
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Timaru Herald, 08 September 1873) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 15 November 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1873
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 22 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Apr 1874
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 24 April 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Apr 1874
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 25 April 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Aug 1874
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 15 August 1874) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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

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 Mechanics”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch