Michael Robb,
thanks for your replies, I'm having trouble replicating some of the items you mentioned and am wondering what I'm misunderstanding.
If it makes a difference I'm talking about a SQL Server 2012 Geodatabase at ArcGIS 10.4.0 for my current DB environment, with ArcGIS Server 10.4.0 unfederated. I'm not sure it does, but you never know.
When I enable Archiving it looks to be creating a "FeatureClass"_H table. So if the feature class is GIPractice the historical (or archive table) is GIPractice_H (checking the source of the "Historical Archive" layer added with the Geodatabase History Toolbar backs this up). The time control fields in there seem to be GDB_FROM_DATE and GDB_TO_DATE, although the created_date and last_edited_date also appear.
When I look at the GIPractice_evw view query in SQL Server manager I don't see any reference to the GPIPractice_H table, and can't seem to find records that are deleted, but are visible in the "_H" table. Also, when I pull the feature class into ArcMap and make it time aware the GDB_FROM_DATE and GDB_TO_DATE fields are missing, only the created_date and last_edited_date fields are available, and they only seem to show the current data.
what am I missing here? I felt like I was finally getting a hold on some of this background DB stuff and it seems like I'm missing something important here.
thanks in advance!