<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SCHWEITZER-MAUDUIT FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 18,400 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 70,100 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 49,600 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 144,100 <PP&E> 352,400 <DEPRECIATION> 163,800 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 365,600 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 88,000 <BONDS> 82,200 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,600 <OTHER-SE> 156,100 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 365,600 <SALES> 113,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 113,000 <CGS> 82,200 <TOTAL-COSTS> 82,200 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 9,800 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 20,100 <INCOME-TAX> 7,500 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 11,300 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 11,300 <EPS-PRIMARY> .70 <EPS-DILUTED> .70