SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 26, 2000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                             FORT JAMES CORPORATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



                                    Virginia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)



                    1-7911                               54-0848173
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer Identification Number)



               1650 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield, Illinois 60015-4753
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)



         Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (847) 317-5000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


<PAGE>


Item 5. Other Events.

         On October 26, 2000 Fort James  Corporation  issued a press release,  a
         copy of which is  attached  hereto  as  Exhibit  99.1 and  incorporated
         herein by reference.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)      99.1     Press release dated October 26, 2000.


<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                    FORT JAMES CORPORATION



                                By: /s/ Clifford A. Cutchins, IV
                                _______________________________________________
                                        Clifford A. Cutchins, IV
                                        Senior Vice President, General Counsel
                                        and Corporate Secretary



Date:  October 26, 2000
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "0001.txt", "description": "FORT JAMES CORP 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2502}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "FORT JAMES CORP", "cik": "0000053117", "assigned-sic": "2621", "irs-number": "540848173", "state-of-incorporation": "VA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-07911", "film-number": "746130"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1650 LAKE COOK RD", "street2": "PO BOX 89", "city": "DEERFIELD", "state": "IL", "zip": "60015", "phone": "8473175000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1650 LAKE COOK RD", "street2": "PO BOX 89", "city": "DEERFIELD", "state": "IL", "zip": "60015"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "JAMES RIVER CORP OF VIRGINIA", "date-changed": "19920703"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 26, 2000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                             FORT JAMES CORPORATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    Virginia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

                    1-7911                               54-0848173
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer Identification Number)

               1650 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield, Illinois 60015-4753
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

         Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (847) 317-5000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 5. Other Events.

         On October 26, 2000 Fort James  Corporation  issued a press release,  a
         copy of which is  attached  hereto  as  Exhibit  99.1 and  incorporated
         herein by reference.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)      99.1     Press release dated October 26, 2000.
SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                    FORT JAMES CORPORATION

                                By: /s/ Clifford A. Cutchins, IV
                                _______________________________________________
                                        Clifford A. Cutchins, IV
                                        Senior Vice President, General Counsel
                                        and Corporate Secretary

Date:  October 26, 2000