<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from 
the annual report on Form 10-K of The Mead Corporation for the year ended 
December 31, 1996 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements. 
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                        DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                           JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                             DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                            21
<SECURITIES>                                       0 
<RECEIVABLES>                                    578 
<ALLOWANCES>                                      28 
<INVENTORY>                                      509 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               1,189
<PP&E>                                         5,199
<DEPRECIATION>                                 2,078
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 4,986
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            758
<BONDS>                                        1,240
<COMMON>                                         156
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              0
<PREFERRED>                                        0
<OTHER-SE>                                     2,091
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   4,986
<SALES>                                            0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               4,707
<CGS>                                              0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  3,804
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                58
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  295
<INCOME-TAX>                                     109
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              190
<DISCONTINUED>                                     5  
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    0
<CHANGES>                                          0
<NET-INCOME>                                     195
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   3.67
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   0.00