| Birth Date: | 18 April 1864 |
| Birth Place: | Jaakkima (modern-day Russia) |
| Death Date: | 31 March 1943 |
| Death Place: | Helsinki, Finland |
| Occupation: | journalist |
| Known For: | co-founder of the Young Finnish Party first leader of the Finnish Women's Union |
| Constituency Mp: | Western Electoral District of Viipuri Province |
| Parliament: | Finnish |
| Term Start: | 1908 |
| Term End: | 1924 |
| Party: | Young Finnish Party National Coalition Party |
| Office1: | Member of the Helsinki City Council |
| Term Start1: | 1925 |
| Term End1: | 1930 |
Thekla (Tekla) Johanna Virginia Hultin (18 April 1864 – 31 March 1943 in Helsinki) was a Finnish journalist, politician and feminist. She was the second woman to receive a doctorate in Finland, and the first to be awarded a Ph.D.[1] [2]
Tekla Hultin was born in Jaakkima (modern-day Russia) to a family of five children.[2] She attended school in Sortavala and later to a private girls school in Viipuri. She studied in Helsinki and became a teacher in 1885.
In 1886, Hultin began her university studies.[2] She studied (among others) literature, art history and psychology, but specialized in history. In spring 1891, she received her Master's degree and became a journalist with the Helsinki newspaper .
In 1896, Hultin defended her history thesis. She then focused her efforts on political action. She published books for Suomalaisuuden herätys and wrote (among others) the biography of Leo Mechelin. In 1901, Hultin was named the second actuary for Statistics Finland's main office.[2]
In her journal, Hultin described historical events of the era and the general feeling of the Finnish public on the events. The victory of the Japanese over the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War laid the foundation for protests, riots and the 1905 general strike in Finland against Russian occupation.[3]
Hultin was one of the founders of the Young Finnish Party and became a journalist for Päivälehti, the official newspaper of the party (1893–1901) and in 1900 for Isänmaan Ystävä.[2] As the first leader of the Finnish Women's Union, Hultin worked with Leo Mechelin to ensure Women's suffrage in Finland.[2]
Hultin served as a Member of Parliament for the Western Electoral District of Viipuri Province from 1908 to 1924.[2] She originally represented the Young Finnish Party and later joined the National Coalition Party when the former dissolved. After her time in parliament, Hultin served on the Helsinki City Council from 1925–1930.[2]