This illustrated presentation seeks to offer insight into the rationale, research methodology and curatorial approach of the exhibition Portraits of History, Voula Papaioannou Dimitris Harissiadis 1940-1960, works from the Photographic Archives of the Benaki Museum, hosted at the Museum of Photography of Thessaloniki in spring 2017. It focuses on issues emerging around the re-interpretation of photography as historical documentation in the museum and how these were addressed in the exhibition. We also explore how the mechanics and politics of photographic representation may be exposed and debated through curatorial design and contextualisation to allow visitors active engagement as spectators/interpreters/producers of photographic content.