The surface memory effect (SME) storage of smectic C textures in the nematic temperature range has been investigated at various conducting and dielectric orienting coatings. The surface memorization for p-n-heptyl-,-octyl- and-nonyl-oxybenzoic acids (HOBA, OOBA, NOBA) consisting of dimer molecules is relatively strong and is observed only on conducting coatings (ITO, SiO/ITO) while dielectric surfaces depress the effect. p-n-Decyloxybenzoic acid (DOBA) exhibits a SME neither for conducting nor for dielectric coatings. The basic role of adsorption in the surface memorization is discussed in combination with the influence of surface polarization and of certain mechanical properties of the liquid crystal molecules. It is demonstrated that the erasure activation energy V hyperbolically decreases with increasing cell thickness d and reaches saturation values at d 250mum. Probably this dependence indicates the role of the dielectric state of the coatings in the surface memorization process. The problem of the possible biaxial character of the memorized smectic C-like texture in the temperature range of the uniaxial nematic phase is also discussed.