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

                               January 23, 1997
               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)

                                 937-495-6323
                         (Registrant's telephone No.)

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



          ITEM I.   CHANGES IN CONTROL OF REGISTRANT

                    Not applicable.

          ITEM II.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

                    Not applicable.

          ITEM III. BANKRUPTCY OR RECEIVERSHIP

                    Not applicable.

          ITEM IV.  CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT

                    Not applicable.

          ITEM V.   OTHER EVENTS

                    On January 23, 1997, the Registrant issued a news
                    release reporting certain financial results for the
                    year ended December 31, 1996, attached hereto as
                    Exhibit 1.1.

          ITEM VI.  RESIGNATIONS OF REGISTRANT'S DIRECTORS

                    Not applicable.

          ITEM VII. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

                    (a)  Financial Statements:

                    Not applicable.

                    (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information:

                    Not applicable.

                    (c)  Exhibits:

                         1.1   Press release, dated January 23, 1997.

          ITEM VIII.     CHANGES IN FISCAL YEAR

                    Not applicable.


                                    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 autho-
          rized.

                                        The Mead Corporation
                                        (Registrant)

          Date:  January 24, 1997         /s/ David L. Santez      
                 Dayton, Ohio             David L. Santez, Esq.
                                          Assistant Secretary and
                                          Associate General Counsel


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

                                                                   Page

               1.1   Press release dated January 23, 1997           6
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{"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": "97510246"}, "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

                               January 23, 1997
               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)

                                 937-495-6323
                         (Registrant's telephone No.)

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

          ITEM I.   CHANGES IN CONTROL OF REGISTRANT

                    Not applicable.

          ITEM II.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

                    Not applicable.

          ITEM III. BANKRUPTCY OR RECEIVERSHIP

                    Not applicable.

          ITEM IV.  CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT

                    Not applicable.

          ITEM V.   OTHER EVENTS

                    On January 23, 1997, the Registrant issued a news
                    release reporting certain financial results for the
                    year ended December 31, 1996, attached hereto as
                    Exhibit 1.1.

          ITEM VI.  RESIGNATIONS OF REGISTRANT'S DIRECTORS

                    Not applicable.

          ITEM VII. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

                    (a)  Financial Statements:

                    Not applicable.

                    (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information:

                    Not applicable.

                    (c)  Exhibits:

                         1.1   Press release, dated January 23, 1997.

          ITEM VIII.     CHANGES IN FISCAL YEAR

                    Not applicable.

                                    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 autho-
          rized.

                                        The Mead Corporation
                                        (Registrant)

          Date:  January 24, 1997         /s/ David L. Santez      
                 Dayton, Ohio             David L. Santez, Esq.
                                          Assistant Secretary and
                                          Associate General Counsel

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

                                                                   Page

               1.1   Press release dated January 23, 1997           6