Thekla M. Bernays (1856 – January 30, 1931) was an American author, journalist, artist, art collector, speaker, and suffragette.

Thekla's mother was the daughter of Frederick Doering, of Germany, and granddaughter of Seris Bertrand, of France.

[1] Her parents met in Germany but married in St. Louis at the residence of Henry Boernstein, well known theatrical manager and head of a newspaper at that time.

[4] Bernays was twice elected at president of one of the college's literary societies, the Clionian, and ranked high as an essayist.

[1] Bernays was a foreign correspondent for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat and contributed to Reedy's Mirror, the Westliche Post, The Criterion, and other publications.

An address delivered before the St. Louis Wednesday Club on "Postulating an American Literature," and which was printed in the "Bulletin" of Washington University, attracted much attention.

She was also a member of the Arts & Crafts jury for the St. Louis World's Fair or Louisiana Purchase Exposition.

[7] Bernays corresponded with notable American literary figures including Gertrude Atherton, Albert Bloch, Daniel Frohman, Frank Harris, Mitchell Kennerley, and George O'Neil.

In the late 1890s, Thekla moved with Eric to Switzerland where he attended the Ecole de Commerce at Neufchâtel.