Photo of Axel Kjellberg playing nyckelharpa. Photo courtesy of the American Swedish Institute.
Photo of Axel Colberg (nee Kjellberg) outside his Blacksmith Shop on Erie St. in Chicago, prior to his move to Wisconsin. Photo courtesy of Per-Ulf Allmo.
Photo of Axel Kjellberg. Undated. Photo from private collection with permission.
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Axel Kjellberg, born in Uppland, Sweden—a region celebrated for its rich nyckelharpa tradition—grew up in a musical family. His father, Carl Kjellberg (1828–1904), was a respected nyckelharpa player and was known to play with Johan Edlund of Harg, Sweden. It is believed Carl Kjellberg was the first nyckelharpist officially employed at Stockholm’s Skansen Open-Air Museum during the summer of 1892.
In 1891, Axel emigrated to the United States with family members and a nyckelharpa in tow. He initially found work as a blacksmith at the Pullman Company in Illinois, a major manufacturer of railroad cars. Sadly, at some point during his early years in America, it is believed that Axel’s original nyckelharpa was lost in a fire. After Carl’s death in 1904, Axel’s family in Sweden asked what he would like from his father's estate. Axel requested one of his father's nyckelharpas. Although they were unable to send Carl’s personal instrument, the family found an older nyckelharpa (shown in the photo with him) and sent that one instead. In 1916, Axel purchased a small farm in Miles, Wisconsin, later relocating to nearby Walsh, both small towns in the town of Porterfield, Marinette County. The region, located just outside Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is known for its lush forests, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, and scenic bluffs. Sadly, Axel passed at a young age during the 1918 influenza pandemic. Many decades later, his nyckelharpa was found tucked away in the family barn. It eventually came into the care of Axel’s great-grandnephew, a music teacher, who preserved the instrument for several more decades. This instrument likely held deep sentimental value for Axel, symbolizing his connection to both his musical heritage and his family legacy. Today, the nyckelharpa is being slowly and carefully restored to prevent further deterioration. Whether or not it becomes playable again, it will serve an educational purpose—bringing to life the history of the nyckelharpa and honoring the remarkable journey of one immigrant family. Credit to the Kjellberg family, the American Swedish Institute. Also credit and thanks to Per-Ulf Allmo, Sweden for discovery of this musician and research support.
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