How many records does the archive hold?

67,402 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 Piano”, the shelf

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

1,771 records matching 99 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
1 Jan 1851
Sketch: Interior of the Sitting Room of Blackwall House by Alfred Charles Barker · Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
8 Nov 1851
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 08 November 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Nov 1851
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 15 November 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Nov 1851
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 22 November 1851) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Apr 1852
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 17 April 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
6 Nov 1852
Page 11 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 06 November 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Nov 1852
Page 11 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 20 November 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Nov 1852
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 27 November 1852) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 24 September 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Oct 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 01 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
8 Oct 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 08 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Oct 1853
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 22 October 1853) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jan 1854
Page 12 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 21 January 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Sept 1854
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 06 September 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Oct 1854
Page 9 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 07 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Oct 1854
Page 9 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 11 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Oct 1854
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 14 October 1854) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Sept 1855
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 12 September 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1855
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 01 December 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Dec 1855
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 19 December 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Dec 1855
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 26 December 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1855
Page 8 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 29 December 1855) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Jan 1856
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 19 January 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
16 Feb 1856
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 16 February 1856) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
30 Mar 1858
toCleanings of News. FROM ENGLISH PAPERS TO 16TH DECEMBER. (Colonist, 30 March 1858) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
31 Jul 1858
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 31 July 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1858
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 04 August 1858) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Mar 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 30 March 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Apr 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 09 April 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Apr 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 23 April 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Apr 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 27 April 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Apr 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 30 April 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 May 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 4 (Lyttelton Times, 04 May 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Jul 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 23 July 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
27 Jul 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 27 July 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
30 Jul 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 30 July 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
3 Aug 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 03 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Aug 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 06 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
10 Aug 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 10 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
24 Aug 1859
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 24 August 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
7 Sept 1859
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 07 September 1859) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1860s
12 May 1860
Shipping News. (Lyttelton Times, 12 May 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Jun 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 20 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jun 1860
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 30 June 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
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
21 Jul 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 21 July 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Aug 1860
Page 8 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 11 August 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
17 Nov 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 17 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Nov 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 17 November 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Dec 1860
Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 01 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Dec 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 12 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Dec 1860
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 12 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Dec 1860
Page 2 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 15 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Dec 1860
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 19 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Dec 1860
Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 (Lyttelton Times, 22 December 1860) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jun 1861
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Lyttelton Times, 15 June 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Jul 1861
Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 (Lyttelton Times, 17 July 1861) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
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
10 May 1862
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Lyttelton Times, 10 May 1862) Lyttelton Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1866
CHRISTCHURCH, (Timaru Herald, 13 April 1866) Timaru Herald · 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
3 Sept 1867
THE ASSEMBLY. (Daily Southern Cross, 03 September 1867) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Jan 1868
PORT OF AUCKLAND. (Daily Southern Cross, 02 January 1868) Daily Southern Cross · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Oct 1868
THE Grey River Argus THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1868. (Grey River Argus, 29 October 1868) Grey River Argus · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
29 Mar 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 March 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 May 1869
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 01 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 May 1869
Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 03 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1869
Local and General. (Star, 12 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 May 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 14 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 May 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 17 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 May 1869
Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 18 May 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 Oct 1869
Local and General. (Star, 20 October 1869) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1870s
15 Feb 1870
NEW ZEALAND INTELLIGENCE (Colonist, 15 February 1870) Colonist · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Nov 1870
Local and General. (Star, 05 November 1870) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 May 1871
Local and General. (Star, 02 May 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 May 1871
Local and General. (Star, 27 May 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Jul 1871
Local and General. (Star, 26 July 1871) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jan 1872
Local and General. (Star, 24 January 1872) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
2 Mar 1872
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 02 March 1872) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 May 1873
News of the Week. (Otago Witness, 24 May 1873) Otago Witness · 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
2 Sept 1873
SOCIAL. (Otago Daily Times, 02 September 1873) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 Dec 1873
Local and General. (Star, 12 December 1873) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
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
25 Jul 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 25 July 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Sept 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 24 September 1874) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
14 Dec 1874
Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 (Otago Daily Times, 14 December 1874) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Dec 1874
LOCAL AND GENERAL (Timaru Herald, 18 December 1874) Timaru Herald · 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
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
10 May 1876
Untitled (Marlborough Express, 10 May 1876) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Jul 1876
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 15 July 1876) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Aug 1876
Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Otago Daily Times, 29 August 1876) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1877
Untitled (Auckland Star, 03 December 1877) Auckland Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
28 Feb 1878
Page 2 Advertisements Column 3 (Timaru Herald, 28 February 1878) Timaru Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Apr 1878
CHRISTCHURCH. (Star, 13 April 1878) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 May 1878
Page 4 Advertisements Column 3 (Taranaki Herald, 11 May 1878) Taranaki Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Jul 1878
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 11 July 1878) Star · 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 Piano”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch