Margaret Tennant

{{short description|New Zealand historian}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2014}}

{{Infobox scientist

| name = Margaret Tennant

| image = Margaret Tennant 2007.jpg

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| caption = Tennant in 2007

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| fields = New Zealand history

| workplaces = Massey University

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| alma_mater = Massey University

| thesis_title = Indigence and charitable aid in New Zealand 1885–1920

| thesis_url = http://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/4591

| thesis_year = 1981

| doctoral_advisor = W. H. Oliver

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Margaret Anne Tennant is a New Zealand historian, currently Professor Emeritus at Massey University.{{cite web|url=http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/about-massey/news/article.cfm?mnarticle_uuid=A020A3A9-CD67-2576-F46A-3F54895EF989 |title=Three new professors emeriti – Massey University |publisher=Massey.ac.nz |date=19 October 2012 |access-date=17 November 2015}}

Tennant's master's thesis, completed in 1976 at Massey University, was called Matrons with a mission, and was a study of women's organisations 1893–1915.{{Cite web|title=Margaret Tennant|url=https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/150th-anniversary/150-women-in-150-words/1968-2017/margaret-tennant/|access-date=11 May 2021|website=Royal Society Te Apārangi}}{{cite thesis |last=Tennant |first=Margaret |year=1976 |type=Masters thesis |title=Matrons with a mission : women's organisations in New Zealand, 1893–1915 |publisher=Massey Research Online, Massey University |hdl=10179/5755 |url=https://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/5755}} Her doctoral thesis was completed in 1981, and concerned the charitable aid system in New Zealand.{{cite thesis |last=Tennant |first=Margaret |year=1981 |type=Doctoral thesis |title=Indigence and charitable aid in New Zealand 1885–1920 |publisher=Massey Research Online, Massey University |hdl=10179/4591 |url=https://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/4591}}

Tennant has written for Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.{{cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3p13/paterson-ada-gertrude |title=Paterson, Ada Gertrude – Biography – Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |publisher=Teara.govt.nz |date=26 August 1937 |access-date=17 November 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/4m7/macdonald-sadie |title=Macdonald, Sadie – Biography – Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |publisher=Teara.govt.nz |access-date=17 November 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/voluntary-welfare-organisations |title=Voluntary welfare organisations – Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |publisher=Teara.govt.nz |date=10 November 2014 |access-date=17 November 2015}}

Tennant was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2009 and is currently on the Council.{{cite web|url=http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/organisation/council/margaret-tennant/ |title=Professor Margaret Tennant « Council « Our Organisation « Royal Society of New Zealand |publisher=Royalsociety.org.nz |date=20 June 2014 |access-date=17 November 2015}} In 2017, Tennant was selected as one of the Royal Society Te Apārangi's "150 women in 150 words", celebrating the contributions of women to knowledge in New Zealand.