<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SCHWEITZER-MAUDUIT FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <CASH> 22,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 60,700 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 54,400 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 144,200 <PP&E> 350,500 <DEPRECIATION> 164,200 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 362,300 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 80,500 <BONDS> 81,700 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,600 <OTHER-SE> 163,100 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 362,300 <SALES> 229,300 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 229,300 <CGS> 165,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 165,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 20,400 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 42,500 <INCOME-TAX> 15,800 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 24,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 24,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.49 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.49