[2] Miser's early education took place in Pea Ridge, where he developed an interest in geology, partly due to the influence of a high school science teacher.
[2] His work during this period led to the establishment of the Oil and Gas Preliminary Maps and Charts publication series, which provided vital geological information to the petroleum industry.
[3] After reaching the mandatory retirement age in 1954, Miser continued to serve as a scientific staff assistant in the Office of the Director at the USGS until his death from a heart attack on August 1, 1969.
His work covered a wide range of topics, including diamond-bearing peridotites, the structure of the Ouachita Mountains, manganese deposits, mineralogy, and petroleum geology.
[2] His contributions to geology were recognized with numerous honors, including the mineral miserite being named after him in 1950[6] and the Distinguished Service Award by the United States Department of the Interior in 1955.