Discover your family's history at our librariesDigitised Resources
Items from our collection made available online covering topics as varied as Christchurch's first newspaper, a notorious murder, New Zealand's worst ever fire, early art catalogues and more.
Contents
Emigration
Documents and ship-board diaries relating to emigration to Christchurch and Canterbury.
Images
Images of early Christchurch and Canterbury that have been digitised from our collections. They have been sourced from newspapers, archives, books, reports and donations from private collections.
Initially launched as a part of our Imprints collection.
Maps
A collection of historical maps mostly of Christchurch and Canterbury. The digital copies of the maps are from originals held by Christchurch City Libraries, Christchurch City Archives, and from the Cartographic Collection at the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand.
Posters
Our initial online collection of posters are the 1980s Christchurch Rock posters, digitised from the libraries' ephemera collection for New Zealand Music Month, May 2007.
Publications
A selection of publications, pamphlets and booklets from various sources including library and City Council publications and items from our collection.
Wars & Conflicts
Includes fundraising booklets, a troop ship newletter, an early Canterbury militia list and more.
New
- H.H. Stephens War Diary
- The World War I diary of Herbert Harold Stephens, of Sydenham, Christchurch. Entries in the diary by Herbert Stephens cover the period from August 13, 1915 to November 16th, 1916. The later entries are in the first part of the diary.
- The Southern provinces almanac, directory, diary and year-book 1864, 1865, 1866, 1868
- The Almanac was published annually from 1853 to 1892. Christchurch City Libraries has a set covering the years 1863 to 1892. Originally the Almanac covered a number of provinces, but from 1865 the Almanac concentrated on Canterbury. The Almanac includes a review and commentary on the events of the preceeding year. It contains listings of businesses, associations, central and provincial government officials and departments; and a trades and occupations directory. As well as Christchurch and Lyttelton other Canterbury towns are listed. Includes postal, port, customs and other regulations; army lists; details of religious bodies, charitable organisations and various societies.
- Waitaki Hydro-electric Project photograph album
- Photograph album compiled by L.S. Payne covering the construction of the Waitaki hydro-electric power plant; photographs taken between May 1929 and February 1933.
News & events
Ballantynes Fire - Christchurch, 18 November, 1947- The Ballantyne's fire was the worst fire in New Zealand history. Sources for this resource include contemporary accounts in the The Press, The Star, The Star-Sun and New Zealand Weekly News, the 1948 Report of the Royal Commission of inquiry and later articles.
Christchurch Chronology to 1990- A timeline of Christchurch events in chronological order from pre-European times to 1990. Includes this week in history and Christchurch's firsts, bests, worsts and lasts.
Initially launched as a part of our Imprints collection. - New Zealand International Exhibition 1906
- The New Zealand International Exhibition held in Christchurch 1906-7 showcased art and culture from around the world and had nearly 2 million visitors.
The Christchurch Star and the assassination of John F. Kennedy, 1963- The November 23, 1963 edition of the Star newspaper has been digitised. Preoccupation with the Christchurch Star connection intensified with the release in 1992 of Oliver Stone's movie JFK, which uses, as part of its evidence, the front page of the Star of 23 November 1963.
Lyttelton Times- A copy of the first issue of the fledgling colony's first newspaper. The first issue of the Lyttelton Times presented here, appeared on January 11 1851 just 26 days after the printing presses arrived on board the Charlotte Jane on December 16 1850.
Initially launched as a part of our Imprints collection. 
Parker - Hulme Murder Case 1954- Pauline Parker, 16, and Juliet Hulme, 15, were young women whose families, though successful, had secrets and lifestyles that must have affected their behaviour which led to them savagely killing Pauline's mother with a brick in a sock. This information mainly comes from Christchurch newspapers at the time of the trial and articles written since.
Art & Architecture
Art Works
The Bricks: painting of the first settlement on the Plains, 1851 / Durey, John, 1833-1920- Volunteer encampment and inspection, Christchurch, 15th April 1865
- Library 150 Anniversary Tukutuku Panels
Christchurch City Libraries staff teams - from managers to shelvers - created their own unique contemporary tukutuku panels with help from customers during Matariki 2009 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of public library service in Christchurch and will adorn the walls of your libraries for the next 150 years.
Posters
Our initial online collection of posters are the 1980s Christchurch Rock posters, digitised from the libraries' ephemera collection for New Zealand Music Month, May 2007.
Art Publications
A collection of visual arts publications mostly digitised in partnership with the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu.
- The architectural heritage of Christchurch
- An occasional series published by the Christchurch City Council's Heritage team. Titles include Cranmer Club, Church of the Good Shepherd, Government Buildings, Legacy of Thomas Edmonds, McLeans Mansion, Nurses' Memorial Chapel, Normal School, Pavilions, temples & four square walls: Christchurch pump houses and substations, Woods Mill.
Architectural Plans of Christchurch Buildings- A selection of architectural plans and drawings from the collection of the Strategy and Planning Group Heritage Archives, Christchurch City Council. The plans and drawings are of a range of buildings in Christchurch, dating from 1909 to 1968.
Canterbury Society of Arts Catalogues, 1881 - 1914- The Canterbury Society of Arts was founded in 1880 and held its first annual exhibition in 1881. Catalogues for 1881 and 1883 have not been found and instead reconstructions based on other contemporary sources are presented.
Gordon M. Gee botanical illustrations- This collection of botanical illustrations is the work of Gordon Gee who for 18 years worked at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens as a sign writer. His skill as an artist was recognized and he was encouraged to produce drawings and paintings of specimens at the Gardens.
The Group Catalogues 1927 - 1977- The Group was an informal art association formed in Christchurch in 1927 by seven ex-students of the Canterbury College of Art. The Group exhibited annually in Christchurch from 1927 to 1977, quickly gaining a reputation for representing the latest trends in contemporary New Zealand art and attracting artists from around the country.
- The Spur, Sumner : the property of S. Hurst Seager.
- A pamphlet advertising the auction of the Spur properties designed by Samuel Hurst Seager. Includes floor plans, views of the cottage interiors, and general descriptions of the cottages.
Government
Canterbury Police Gazette- The Canterbury Police Gazette was published monthly from 1863 until 1876. They contain lists of stolen items and of other crimes, warrants of arrest with descriptions of the criminals, lists of apprehensions for the month, and of discharges from gaols, and results from court trials.
- Christchurch City Council publications
- Our digitised publications include the 1906-7 yearbook and a booklet celebrating the opening of the Civic Offices in 1980.
- Christchurch Militia List 1860
- An alphabetical list of all Persons, between the ages of 18 and 60 years, residing within 15 miles from the Land Office, at Christchurch, and liable to serve as Militiamen for the year 1860-61 (ending 31st March, 1861) in the Militia District of Christchurch.
Fragments from the official career of John Dwyer, Superintendent of Police, 1878 to 1921- John Dwyer’s 43 year policing career began in New Zealand in Dunedin in 1878. He was associated with many notable cases throughout his career. His memoirs focus on some of these incidents, and provide insight into policing in late nineteenth and early twentieth century New Zealand.
- The North Canterbury Hospital Board : fragments of history : hospitals : tuberculosis and benevolent institutions and miscellaneous
- Unpublished manuscript by Winifred Norris, detailing the history of selected hospitals, orphanages, sanatoriums, and benevolent institutions, in and around Christchurch and Lyttelton.
Ordinances of the Canterbury Province- A record of the legislation enacted by the provincial government during the years 1853 and 1875. Canterbury was one of six provinces created under the New Zealand Constitution Act of 1852. Each province was governed by a Superintendent and Provincial Council. Transcribed from the original documents.
Initially launched as a part of our Imprints collection.
From the Collection
Burke manuscript- A lively hand-written account of Christchurch events and personalities during the 1850s and 1860s. The text is interspersed with hundreds of cuttings from books and magazines. Many cuttings are portraits or caricatures, not always of the person described but regarded by Burke as having their characteristics.
Initially launched as a part of our Imprints collection. - Catalogue of books belonging to the Canterbury Association, June 17th 1852
- Catalogue of the books belonging to the Canterbury Association packed in six cases for Lyttelton, 17 June 1852, and a bill of despatch signed by J.R. Godley for six cases, plus one case, dated 16 June 1852, mounted at back of the catalogue
- Christchurch, New Zealand, city of beautiful gardens and parklands, tourist centre of the South Island
Publicity pamphlet developed by the Junior Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the City Council. Includes a four-page itinerary with outings from half-day to one week, with prices.- Christchurch Mechanics' Institute Archives
- A collection of material relating to the early years of the Christchurch Mechanics' Institute. The Institute was the foundation organisation of the Canterbury Public Library, later known as Christchurch City Libraries.
- Christchurch Writers' Trail
- "The Canterbury Branch of the New Zealand Society of Authors has, with generous assistance from The Community Trust, now laid 32 writer's plaques in various parts of Christchurch. This booklet features brief writers’ biographies and photographs, and includes a map to help you find the plaques commemorating each writer."
- Correspondence relating to the management of the Christchurch Hospital
- Records the increase in number of patients, and the change in workload. Request for additional staffing and funding.
- Fragments from the official career of John Dwyer, Superintendent of Police, 1878 to 1921
- John Dwyer’s 43 year policing career began in New Zealand in Dunedin in 1878. He was associated with many notable cases throughout his career. His memoirs focus on some of these incidents, and provide insight into policing in late nineteenth and early twentieth century New Zealand.
- H.H. Stephens War Diary
- The World War I diary of Herbert Harold Stephens, of Sydenham, Christchurch. Entries in the diary by Herbert Stephens cover the period from August 13, 1915 to November 16th, 1916. The later entries are in the first part of the diary.
- New Brighton, New Zealand : Canterbury's playground
- Pamphlet advertising the general attractions of New Brighton, published by the New Brighton Publicity Committee and the Canterbury Progress League. Includes local information and history of the area.
- Norfolk Island diary and other jottings, World War II, 1941-1943.
- Notebook diary written by George Whitley, N.Z.E. (Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers), who was posted to Norfolk Island during World War II. Diary begins in September 1942 and ends in April 1943.
- Opawa Public Library carnival: Johnson's Picnic Gardens on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 13, 14, 15
- Pamphlet advertising an event to raise funds for stocking and equipping the Opawa Public Library. Contains a short history of the efforts to establish the library, fund raising activities, lists of local people and some local history of the Opawa and Heathcote areas
- Rules of the Sydenham Public Library
- Booklet listing duties of Officers; Committee and Librarian duties; and circulation rules.
- The Southern provinces almanac, directory, diary and year-book 1864, 1865, 1866, 1868
- The Almanac was published annually from 1853 to 1892. Christchurch City Libraries has a set covering the years 1863 to 1892. Originally the Almanac covered a number of provinces, but from 1865 the Almanac concentrated on Canterbury. The Almanac includes a review and commentary on the events of the preceding year. It contains listings of businesses, associations, central and provincial government officials and departments; and a trades and occupations directory. As well as Christchurch and Lyttelton other Canterbury towns are listed. Includes postal, port, customs and other regulations; army lists; details of religious bodies, charitable organisations and various societies.
- Special report on the Canterbury Public Library
- A report by City Librarian Ron O'Reilly. Contains a brief history of the library, surveys the position and funding for the city library and the suburban libraries in 1951, and makes recommendations for the development of the city library and the development of suburban library services for Christchurch.
- The story of the South Island Methodist Orphanage and Children's home, Christchurch
- A history of the orphanage and childrens home in Papanui opened in 1914; published after the first twenty years of operation. Includes photographs of the buildings, staff and children.
- Waitaki Hydro-electric Project photograph album
- Photograph album compiled by L.S. Payne covering the construction of the Waitaki hydro-electric power plant; photographs taken between May 1929 and February 1933.
