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


                              November 2, 1999
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)


                            THE MEAD CORPORATION
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


     Ohio                    1-2267                31-0535759
  (State of                Commission            (IRS Employer
 Incorporation)            File                  Identification
                                                  Number)


            Mead World Headquarters, Courthouse Plaza, Northeast
                            Dayton, Ohio  45463
                            -------------------
                  (Address of principal executive offices)


                                937-495-4439
                                ------------
                        (Registrant's telephone No.)


                               Not Applicable
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
       (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)



 ITEM V.   OTHER EVENTS

           On November 1, 1999, the Registrant acquired Cullman Ventures,
           Inc. ("CVI"), a New York corporation, by merging Mead Acquisition
           Corp. ("Acquisition Sub"), a New York corporation and a wholly-
           owned subsidiary of the Registrant, with and into CVI (the
           "Merger") pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated
           September 29, 1999 (the "Merger Agreement"), by and among the
           Registrant, Acquisition Sub, CVI and certain principal
           shareholders of CVI.  Pursuant to the Merger, the separate
           corporate existence of Acquisition Sub ceased and CVI survived
           the Merger and became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
           Registrant.  The purchase price, subject to adjustment pursuant
           to the Merger Agreement, was approximately $550,000,000 in cash.


 ITEM VII. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

           (c)  Exhibits:

                2.1     Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated September 29,
                        1999, by and among the Registrant, Mead Acquisition
                        Corp., Cullman Ventures, Inc. and certain principal
                        shareholders of Cullman Ventures, Inc.

                2.2     Press release issued by the Registrant on November
                        2, 1999


                                 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 hereunto duly authorized.


                               The Mead Corporation
                               (Registrant)


  Date:  November 2, 1999      /s/ Sue K. McDonnell
         Dayton, Ohio          ------------------------
                               Sue K. McDonnell, Esq.
                               Vice President,
                               General Counsel and Secretary



                               EXHIBIT INDEX

                                                                       Page


 2.1      Agreement and Plan of Merger dated September 29, 1999 by
          and among the Registrant, Mead Acquisition Corp.,
          Cullman Ventures, Inc. and certain principal
          shareholders of Cullman Ventures, Inc.

 2.2      Press release issued by the Registrant on November 2,
          1999
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3908}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "MEAD CORP", "cik": "0000064394", "assigned-sic": "2631", "irs-number": "310535759", "state-of-incorporation": "OH", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-02267", "film-number": "99739076"}, "business-address": {"street1": "MEAD WORLD HEADQUARTERS", "street2": "COURTHOUSE PLZ NORTHEAST", "city": "DAYTON", "state": "OH", "zip": "45463", "phone": "5134956323"}}
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

                              November 2, 1999
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

                            THE MEAD CORPORATION
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

     Ohio                    1-2267                31-0535759
  (State of                Commission            (IRS Employer
 Incorporation)            File                  Identification
                                                  Number)

            Mead World Headquarters, Courthouse Plaza, Northeast
                            Dayton, Ohio  45463
                            -------------------
                  (Address of principal executive offices)

                                937-495-4439
                                ------------
                        (Registrant's telephone No.)

                               Not Applicable
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
       (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 ITEM V.   OTHER EVENTS

           On November 1, 1999, the Registrant acquired Cullman Ventures,
           Inc. ("CVI"), a New York corporation, by merging Mead Acquisition
           Corp. ("Acquisition Sub"), a New York corporation and a wholly-
           owned subsidiary of the Registrant, with and into CVI (the
           "Merger") pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated
           September 29, 1999 (the "Merger Agreement"), by and among the
           Registrant, Acquisition Sub, CVI and certain principal
           shareholders of CVI.  Pursuant to the Merger, the separate
           corporate existence of Acquisition Sub ceased and CVI survived
           the Merger and became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
           Registrant.  The purchase price, subject to adjustment pursuant
           to the Merger Agreement, was approximately $550,000,000 in cash.

 ITEM VII. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

           (c)  Exhibits:

                2.1     Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated September 29,
                        1999, by and among the Registrant, Mead Acquisition
                        Corp., Cullman Ventures, Inc. and certain principal
                        shareholders of Cullman Ventures, Inc.

                2.2     Press release issued by the Registrant on November
                        2, 1999

                                 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 hereunto duly authorized.

                               The Mead Corporation
                               (Registrant)

  Date:  November 2, 1999      /s/ Sue K. McDonnell
         Dayton, Ohio          ------------------------
                               Sue K. McDonnell, Esq.
                               Vice President,
                               General Counsel and Secretary

                               EXHIBIT INDEX

                                                                       Page

 2.1      Agreement and Plan of Merger dated September 29, 1999 by
          and among the Registrant, Mead Acquisition Corp.,
          Cullman Ventures, Inc. and certain principal
          shareholders of Cullman Ventures, Inc.

 2.2      Press release issued by the Registrant on November 2,
          1999