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) August 13, 1997



                             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)


                  120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code        (804) 644-5411
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       JAMES RIVER CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  (Former name, if changed since last report)

<PAGE>

Item 2.  Acquisitions and Dispositions of Assets

     On August 13, 1997, Fort James Corporation  ("Fort James" or the "Company")
filed a press release  announcing  the  completion  of the merger  between James
River Corporation of Virginia ("James River") and Fort Howard Corporation ("Fort
Howard")  pursuant to which Fort Howard became a wholly-owned  subsidiary of the
Company (the  "Merger").  The Company  issued 104.8 million shares of its common
stock for all of the  outstanding  common stock of Fort Howard  Corporation.  In
connection with the Merger, the Company's  corporate name was changed from James
River  Corporation  of Virginia to Fort James  Corporation.  A copy of the press
release is filed herewith as exhibit 99.2.

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits


                  (a)    Financial  statements of business  acquired 

                         It is not  practical  for Fort James to provide at this
                         time the financial statement of Fort Howard Corporation
                         required by this item.  Such  financial statements  are
                         expected  to  be  filed  in  a  Form 8-K  no later than
                         September 8, 1997; and  in  no event  will it  be filed
                         later than October 13, 1997.

                  (b)    Pro forma financial information

                         Unaudited  pro forma  financial  information  for  Fort
                         James  reflecting  the  condensed  combined  results of
                         operations  of James  River and  Fort  Howard  for  the
                         years ended  December 29, 1996,  December 31, 1995  and
                         December  25,  1994,  and for the six months (26 weeks)
                         ended June 29, 1997, and  June 30, 1996, as  well as an
                         unaudited pro forma  condensed  combined balance  sheet
                         as of June 29, 1997 is filed herewith as exhibit 99.1.

                  (c)    Exhibits:

                         99.1  Unaudited   pro   forma   condensed   combined
                               financial  information  as described in Item 7
                               (b) - filed herewith.

                         99.2  Press release dated August 13, 1997 - filed
                               herewith.



<PAGE>

                                                    SIGNATURES


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


                                     FORT JAMES CORPORATION



                                     By:/s/Clifford A. Cutchins, IV
                                        ---------------------------
                                           Clifford A. Cutchins, IV
                                        Senior Vice President, General Counsel


Date:    August  21, 1997
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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) August 13, 1997

                             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)

                  120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code        (804) 644-5411
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       JAMES RIVER CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  (Former name, if changed since last report)
Item 2.  Acquisitions and Dispositions of Assets

     On August 13, 1997, Fort James Corporation  ("Fort James" or the "Company")
filed a press release  announcing  the  completion  of the merger  between James
River Corporation of Virginia ("James River") and Fort Howard Corporation ("Fort
Howard")  pursuant to which Fort Howard became a wholly-owned  subsidiary of the
Company (the  "Merger").  The Company  issued 104.8 million shares of its common
stock for all of the  outstanding  common stock of Fort Howard  Corporation.  In
connection with the Merger, the Company's  corporate name was changed from James
River  Corporation  of Virginia to Fort James  Corporation.  A copy of the press
release is filed herewith as exhibit 99.2.

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

                  (a)    Financial  statements of business  acquired 

                         It is not  practical  for Fort James to provide at this
                         time the financial statement of Fort Howard Corporation
                         required by this item.  Such  financial statements  are
                         expected  to  be  filed  in  a  Form 8-K  no later than
                         September 8, 1997; and  in  no event  will it  be filed
                         later than October 13, 1997.

                  (b)    Pro forma financial information

                         Unaudited  pro forma  financial  information  for  Fort
                         James  reflecting  the  condensed  combined  results of
                         operations  of James  River and  Fort  Howard  for  the
                         years ended  December 29, 1996,  December 31, 1995  and
                         December  25,  1994,  and for the six months (26 weeks)
                         ended June 29, 1997, and  June 30, 1996, as  well as an
                         unaudited pro forma  condensed  combined balance  sheet
                         as of June 29, 1997 is filed herewith as exhibit 99.1.

                  (c)    Exhibits:

                         99.1  Unaudited   pro   forma   condensed   combined
                               financial  information  as described in Item 7
                               (b) - filed herewith.

                         99.2  Press release dated August 13, 1997 - filed
                               herewith.
SIGNATURES

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

                                     FORT JAMES CORPORATION

                                     By:/s/Clifford A. Cutchins, IV
                                        ---------------------------
                                           Clifford A. Cutchins, IV
                                        Senior Vice President, General Counsel

Date:    August  21, 1997