The tradition of unveiling of memorial plaques takes its roots in the hoary past. During the Middle Ages the greatest part of dwellings, founded by the rulers or Boyars, included memorial plaques with inscriptions graved into stone. Antique memorial plaques have been preserved on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, except for the ones located in the villages Corotnoe and Cioburcin, only in the form of certain insignificant fragments of gravestones with lapidary inscriptions. Even more vestiges are dating from the Middle Ages. The oldest lapidary inscriptions, documentarily attested, seem to be the medieval and antique inscriptions in the White Fortress (currently, this territory belongs to Ukraine), as well as medieval vestiges in Orhei Vechi (either inscriptions in Arabic language from Sahr-al-Djeadid, or inscriptions from the medieval Orhei and texts graved into stone in Bosie cell, Capriana Monastery, Ismail and Chilia (Ukraine) and Soroca Fortress. Not always such inscriptions had the form of certain stone plaques incorporated in edifice walls. Thus, inscriptions with "autographs" of founders of Soroca Fortress and votive texts in the Bosie cell or other rupestral cells are graved directly into the stone or walls thickness. There are cases, when role of a memorial plaque (especially in churches) was attributed to diptychs, which were not usually graved into rock, but painted on dwelling walls or were spelled, just like icons, on timber plaques (case of a diptych in the Capriana Monastery). Exterior lapidary writing, spelled in Greek language on the Assumption of the Virgin Church in Causeni (1763), includes very important data related to the stages of construction and composition of painters' team. Fourteen years later (1777) a votive inscription in Slavic language is graved into marble in the Rudi Monastery. It is located in the porch of the Saint Trinity Church under the aforementioned monastery. Memorial inscriptions on the grave of the Bishop Gavriil Banulescu-Bodoni in Capriana Monastery, as well as the ones on the funerary plaque of the grave of Archimandrite Chiril in the same monastery (after 1821), represent an incontestable historic value.
A memorial plaque, graved into stone and dedicated to Toma Cosma - founder of the church (1822) - has been preserved at St. Nicholas Church under the Dobrusa Monastery and a text graved into marble and dedicated to the founder of the church - Hristofor C. Iskrov (1887) was found in the St. Nicholas Church under Tiganesti Monastery. Generally speaking, it should be noted that in the second half of the XVIIIth and XIXth centuries there have been found a lot of founders' inscriptions in the monasteries and churches of Basarabia. Even older are the votive inscriptions of Vasile Lupu at Saint Dumitru Church in Orhei and Saint Nicholas Church in Chilia. They are dating from the first half of the XVIIth century.
In the XXth century, and in particular, in the second half of the XXth century, the number of commemorative plaques has increased in the exponential manner. The period following the World War II is characterized by the onset of inauguration of memorial plaques dedicated to the Heroes of Russian Revolution, Civil War, as well as to the Militants of Illegal Movements in the Interwar Basarabia, Heroes Fallen during the World War II, events inspired from the history of Russian-Turkish Wars, Bulgarian revolutionaries and fighters for the independence of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke. Historic events of the neighboring Romania were left out because of political and ideological reasons. Hence, in Chisinau, in the 50's there has been unveiled a memorial plaque on the edifice, where in 1901-1902 the printing-house of the illegal Leninist newspaper "Iskra" was located, whereas on the facade of the administrative bloc, located on Stefan cel Mare Boulevard, a memorial plaque dedicated to Bulgarian Volunteers was unveiled in 1977 (sculptor M. Spinei). In the 50-60's of the XXth century very few memorial plaques were dedicated to men of culture, scientists, artists, architects, mayors, politicians, etc. Only architects Alexei Sciusev and Robert Curt, classics of Russian literature - Alexander Puskin, Leo Tolstoy and Maxim Gorky, native writers - Grigore Adam, Alexei Mateevici, Moldovan writers fallen in the World War II - A. Robot, T. Nencev and S. Mospan, poet Liviu Deleanu, composers - Stefan Neaga, Alexei Starcea and Eugen Coca, athlete Ivan Zaikin, sculptor - Alexandru Plamadeala, Doctor Toma Ciorba and first Chairman of the Academy of Science of the Republic of Moldova - Iachim S. Grosul, were honored by unveiling of memorial plaques, installed either on their houses or premises of institutions, where they used to work in Chisinau.
The period that followed 1985 and lasted until the last decade of the XXth century was characterized by a radical change in the assessment of events and personalities in the history of the Republic of Moldova. The number of memorial plaques dedicated to national writers, artists, painters, poets, politicians, scientists, etc. has considerably increased. It is for the first time, when several memorial plaques were unveiled in the honor of mayors of Chisinau during the Tsarist and Interwar periods (plaques dedicated to Carol Schmidt and Gherman Pantea). Some writers, whose works were prohibited during the Soviet regime, were brought back to the circuit of national values. They were also honored by the inauguration of memorial plaques in the houses they used to live in (this is the case of the prose writer, who used to live in the Interwar period, Constantin Stere).
Ultimately, it should be stated that the assessment of value of a personality in history and confirmation of this value by the inauguration of plaques or memorial signs is the most politicized and tributary area for the options and tastes of the ruling classes on various levels. Unfortunately, not always the public opinion or opinion of men of science and art is taken into consideration by the decision factors. Due to this reason, many of the personalities, worthy of commemoration, are still on the waiting list.
