By using an inductive procedure we prove that the Galerkin finite element approximations of electromagnetic eigenproblems modelling cavity resonators by elements of any fixed order of either Nedelec's edge element family on tetrahedral meshes are convergent and free of spurious solutions. This result is not new but is proved under weaker hypotheses, which are fulfilled in most of engineering applications. The method of the proofis new, instead, and shows how families of spurious-freeelements can be systematically constructed. The tools here developed are used to define a new family of spurious-freeedge elements which, in some sense, are complementary to those defined in 1986 by Nedelec.