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 8, 1997



                       JAMES RIVER CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (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 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


<PAGE>

Item 5.   Other Events.

     Included  in this  filing is James River  Corporation  of Virginia  ("James
River" or the  "Company")  unaudited  pro  forma  condensed  combined  financial
information  prepared in connection  with the proposed merger of James River and
Fort Howard Corporation  ("Fort Howard").  The proposed merger is pursuant to an
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 4, 1997, by and among James River,
James River Delaware,  Inc. (a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of James River and Fort
Howard) (the "Merger").  The unaudited pro forma financial  information contains
the condensed  combined results of operations of James River and Fort Howard for
the six months (26 weeks) ended June 29, 1997,  and June 30, 1996,  as well as a
condensed  combined  balance  sheet as of June 29, 1997. A copy of the unaudited
pro forma condensed combined financial  information is filed herewith as Exhibit
99. 

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

        (c) Exhibits:
 
            99 Unaudited pro forma  condensed  combined  financial  
               information - 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.


                                     JAMES RIVER CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA
 
 
 
                                     By:/s/Clifford A. Cutchins, IV 
                                           Clifford A. Cutchins, IV
                                        Senior Vice President, General Counsel


Date:    August  8, 1997
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM 8K DATED AUGUST 8, 1997", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3093}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "JAMES RIVER CORP OF VIRGINIA", "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": "97654019"}, "business-address": {"street1": "120 TREDEGAR ST", "city": "RICHMOND", "state": "VA", "zip": "23219", "phone": "8046494296"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "P O BOX 2218", "city": "RICHMOND", "state": "VA", "zip": "23218"}}
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 8, 1997

                       JAMES RIVER CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (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 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 5.   Other Events.

     Included  in this  filing is James River  Corporation  of Virginia  ("James
River" or the  "Company")  unaudited  pro  forma  condensed  combined  financial
information  prepared in connection  with the proposed merger of James River and
Fort Howard Corporation  ("Fort Howard").  The proposed merger is pursuant to an
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 4, 1997, by and among James River,
James River Delaware,  Inc. (a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of James River and Fort
Howard) (the "Merger").  The unaudited pro forma financial  information contains
the condensed  combined results of operations of James River and Fort Howard for
the six months (26 weeks) ended June 29, 1997,  and June 30, 1996,  as well as a
condensed  combined  balance  sheet as of June 29, 1997. A copy of the unaudited
pro forma condensed combined financial  information is filed herewith as Exhibit
99. 

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

        (c) Exhibits:
 
            99 Unaudited pro forma  condensed  combined  financial  
               information - 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.

                                     JAMES RIVER CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA
 
 
 
                                     By:/s/Clifford A. Cutchins, IV 
                                           Clifford A. Cutchins, IV
                                        Senior Vice President, General Counsel

Date:    August  8, 1997