Bottom Lines Cause Unease at Societies of Scholars

By DAVID GLENN

With the economic climate growing worse week by week, directors of scholarly organizations are preparing for the likelihood that 2009 will be a grim year for their finances. None report that they face immediate crises, but many say they fear that certain kinds of revenue — from conference attendance, foundation grants, and especially investment income — will start to hemorrhage during the coming months.

The American Philosophical Association, whose eastern